In First Impressions George freedman, DDS, gives readers a brief summary of products that have recently been introduced to dentistry, based on his clinical experience.
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KUT Carbide Burs |
 Routine tooth preparation is the everyday basic treatment unit that dentists have been providing for many decades. The efficiency of the preparation (for the dentist) and the comfort of the preparation (for the patient) are some of the most important indicators of continuing practice success. As most practitioners have learned, not all burs are created equal. Their job is to develop the designated preparation quickly and efficiently; the bur shapes and dentate (cutting edge) forms are largely responsible for the relative ease of the task. Generally, the greater the number of cutting edges that a bur has, the more rapidly, comfortably, and smoothly it prepares the tooth surfaces to the desired form. The Dental Film Club’s fast-cutting KUT Carbide Burs are designed to cut both tooth structure and existing restorative materials quickly and aggressively. The carbides do not catch, grab, or stall in harder-to-cut materials such as semiprecious or precious crown metals or amalgam. In fact, they are specifically indicated for crown removal, rapid endodontic access, and routine tooth preparation, including amalgam removal. Perhaps the greatest advantage of carbide burs is their low initial cost. KUT Carbide Burs are priced to be disposable but can be effectively sterilized, giving the dentist a choice; dispose them after the initial use or reuse them after sterilization. The KUT Carbides’ unique blade geometry offers a very fast and efficient operative cutting process that creates minimal chatter, increasing patient comfort and minimizing operator hand fatigue at the end of the day—an affordable and innovative technology.For more information, call (888) 768-1230 or visit the Web site dentalfilmclub.com. |
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MixStar eMotion |
 About 15 years ago, dental manufacturers finally realized that the chairside mixing of impression materials is not always an easy task for the dentist or the assistant. Mixing consistency and air bubbles are always concerns, and heavy-body materials may simply require too much hand strength. The introduction of the automated power mixers has made the impression material mixing process much easier, more predictable, and certainly much less stressful, particularly in offices where impression taking is a common practice. The MixStar has been one of the profession’s power mixing standards for many years. Now Zenith Dental’s introduction of the MixStar eMotion brings increased predictability as well as a host of novel options to the impression-mixing process. The eMotion has 3 speeds, allowing the practitioner to customize the unit to the preferred mixing speed of favorite materials and the pace of the practice. The top mixing speed of the eMotion is actually twice as fast as the original MixStar. Electronic controls ensure fully automatic, hands-free operation, and a homogenous, consistent, bubble-free mix at any speed. One button begins the mixing process, which continues automatically until stopped. The eMotion is compatible with all prefilled cartridges and bags, and the unique autoretract features allow the cartridges to be changed “on the fly” even in mid-impression, allowing every last bit of material in the cartridge to be used. The power of the MixStar eMotion mixes even the most viscous materials effectively, dispensing them directly into the impression tray. On-board computers and 2 separate timers store dozens of preprogrammed mixing procedures; there is no need to reset each and every time.For more information, call (800) 662-6383 or visit the Web site zenithdental.com. |
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Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health Manual Toothbrush |
 When tooth-brushing preferences are examined, there is a definite trend toward mechanical (power) brushing, scientifically and clinically accepted as a more effective technique for developing and maintaining oral hygiene. A very large part of the public, however, still uses manual brushes and is likely to do so for the foreseeable future. The profession and the industry must continue to provide manual brush users with the best possible tools to keep teeth clean and gingiva at their optimal health. Patients often ask their dental professionals—specifically dentists, hygienists, and assistants—for advice on selecting their manual toothbrush. As with any other preventive technique or appliance, scientific evidence of success drives professional recommendation. Other critical factors include the clinical ease of instruction and use (factors that, in turn, increase patient compliance). The Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health Manual Toothbrush leverages an advanced brush head design and bristle configuration to remove hard-to-reach plaque. Regular use also promotes healthier gingiva interproximally as well as in the more readily accessible areas. The CrossAction manual toothbrush has end-rounded bristles, specifically designed to be gentle to oral structures, both hard and soft tissue. The unique CrissCross bristles are very effective in cleaning the gingival margin, and the various bristle textures polish away surface stains. The outer gingival stimulators of the CrossAction manual toothbrush are effective in stimulating soft tissue, providing additional cleaning power from every angle. The bristle base has been developed into a tongue cleaner that removes odor-causing germs. Rather than burden patients with a series of prophylactic instruments, the Oral-B CrossAction Pro-Health manual toothbrush actually provides patients with 7 cleaning instruments in one.For more information, call (800) 543-2577 or visit the Web site dentalcare.com/advance. |
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Cosmetic Aligner |
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Transmitting correct midline information from the dental office to the lab technician is crucial. Unfortu-nately, these alignment parameters are difficult to determine on the laboratory models. In the past, the cross-stick-bite impression method was common, among others. Of course, sophisticated articulators are the most accurate means of transferring interocclusal information but may not be practical in every case. The Cosmetic Aligner is an innovative yet very simple device that can accurately transfer midline and horizontal plane information accurately between the dentist and the lab technician. The technique is straightforward. The Aligner (point facing upward) is painted internally with impression adhesive and filled with quick-set bite registration material. The Aligner is positioned over the prepared teeth, marking the vertical position of the midline and the horizontal interocclusal planes. Landmarks such as the eyes, nose, and lips help to determine the positioning of the Aligner. Once the bite-registration material is set, the lower portion of the liner is again brushed with adhesive and filled with quick-set bite registration material. The Aligner is repositioned on the upper prepared teeth, and the patient slowly bites down to register the lower teeth in the quick-set bite registration. The materials must set without distortion and without movement of the patient’s jaws. Note: This is not a bite registration technique. With these models and interocclusal information, the laboratory technician places the Aligner on the master model and accurately determines both the midline and the horizontal planes. The final restorations are then verified using the same technique. Simple communication is good communication. Cosmetic Aligner is excellent for easy and accurate information transfer every time. |
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CHOICE 2 Veneer Cement |
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For decades, dentists have faced the clinical dilemma of choosing self-curing, dual-curing, or light-curing resin cements for porcelain veneers. From a scientific perspective, the selection should be fairly simple. Self-curing and dual-curing resin cements typically have phosphene initiators, aromatic tertiary amines that continue the polymerization process to completion once a chemical or light initiation has begun. This process continues even in the absence of photon (light) stimulation. Where the restoration is not translucent (such as porcelain-fused-to-metal, zirconia, and similar crowns), continued polymerization is necessary to set the cement in those areas that are not light-accessible. |
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The Starbright LED Headlight |
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Vision and visibility in the oral cavity are always major concerns. Hands, instruments, or even a slight movement of the patient’s head can often obstruct the overhead dental light. While in-handpiece lights are effective in illuminating the immediate working area, often a larger sphere of visibility is needed. As dental professionals get older, they require more light to see and work effectively. Increasingly, they have begun to use illuminating headlamps of one type or another. Earlier lighting models were heavy, bulky, wired (to the battery), and cumbersome. The Starbright LED Headlight from High Q Dental is an innovative and very convenient solution to illumination problems inside the oral cavity. It consists of a single-watt LED that provides 500 foot-candles of light intensity. The bulb’s 100,000-hour life expectancy means that you will never have to change the bulb as long as you use it. Powering the Starbright LED Headlight are 3 AAA batteries (regular or rechargeable), and each set of batteries will provide 15 to 20 hours of use. Best of all, the headlight’s weight on a standard clip is 1 oz. This means that it is virtually unnoticed by the operator, even when it is worn all day long. Also, the LED lighting is “cool,” emitting virtually no heat from the light source. The Starbright LED Head-light is an effective clinical treatment adjunct for hygienists (as well as dentists) and any others who benefit from having their working field illuminated. High Q offers specific Starbright clips for most popular magnification loupes and standard safety glasses in addition to a custom headband. The Starbright LED Headlight is effective, affordable, and illuminating. |
Dr. Freedman is past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a founder of the Canadian Academy for Esthetic Dentistry. He is the Chairman of the Clinical Innovations Conference (London, United Kingdom) as well as the Dental Innovations Forum (Singapore). Dr. Freedman is the author or co-author of 9 textbooks, more than 220 dental articles, and numerous CDs, video and audiotapes, and is a Team Member of REALITY. He is a past director of CE programs in aesthetic dentistry at the Universities of California at San Francisco, Florida, UMKC, Minnesota, Baylor College, and Case Western Reserve, and was the founding Associate Director of the Esthetic Dentistry Education Center at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr Freedman is a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry and lectures internationally on dental aesthetics, dental technology, and photography. A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Dr. Freedman maintains a private practice limited to aesthetic dentistry in Toronto, Canada, and can be reached at (905) 513-9191 or epdot@rogers.com.
