Hygiene pearls for your practice

by Joe Blaes, DDS

Profluorid Varnish

is the thin and tasty white transparent 5% sodium fluoride varnish that is available in a new nonmessy delivery system. The delivery system is easy to open and easy to hold as you dispense the varnish with the included brush. My hygienists and assistants agreed that this was a great system. It is transparent in appearance and will not cause a yellow discoloration of the teeth. Profluorid Varnish has great-tasting flavors (caramel, cherry, mint, and melon) without any nasty aftertaste, and it adheres well to a moist surface. The great taste is due to the addition of xylitol and the fact that it contains no saccharin, aspartame, or gluten. The material spreads easily and sets quickly after contact with saliva. Profluorid Varnish has enhanced flow characteristics with a thin spreadable consistency that allows it to reach areas that some varnishes may miss. But the best news about this product is the high immediate fluoride release. In the first hour after application, the fluoride release has reached 7,000 ppm, which is maintained for the next three hours. This gives your patients the maximum effect of the fluoride treatment. This is a great, easy, nonmessy, single-dose delivery system that gives your patients the very best fluoride varnish application.

Visit www.vocoamerica.com for more information.

To have Dr. Joe Blaes present his lecture, "Pearls For Your Practice®," for your study group or dental society, please call (866) 274-4500.

from Waterpik®.

This new brush is powered by the latest sonic technology that produces powerful, yet gentle plaque removal. The advanced brush head design with extra soft end-rounded bristles gently targets those hard-to-reach areas between the teeth. The Sensonic Professional Plus has advanced features that include a slim ergonomic handle design that makes the brush easier to hold in the proper position. Some patients come with small mouths and some come with large mouths so this brush has three brush head options that allow your patients to make the best selection to meet their individual needs. There is a new charging base with a recharge indicator gauge. It also features a two-minute brushing timer with 30-second intervals to ensure adequate brushing time in each quadrant of the mouth. There is a dual-speed control on the handle that allows for selecting low speed for gentle cleaning and gum massaging or high speed for better cleaning and plaque removal. This feature empowers the dentist or the hygienist to select the speed setting that is best for the patient's treatment. The Sensonic Professional Plus comes with a premium travel case and hygienic brush-head covers. It is covered by a two-year warranty. The product is available exclusively through your dental distributor.

Visit www.waterpik.com for more information.

Microlux Diagnostic System

This company is owned by a dentist, Dr. Josh Friedman. I have known Josh for many years and I have written many Pearls on his innovative products. AdDent Inc. is a dealer-oriented company located in the USA that manufactures high-quality advanced dental products. AdDent maintains a 6,500 sq. foot manufacturing and R&D facility in Danbury, Connecticut. I have been using his Calset Composite Warmer system for years. This system improves composite flow by 68%, shortens my curing time, and improves physical properties. Using Calset has made my composite restorations stronger, with less microleakage and no failures. Dr. Friedman has developed the Microlux Diagnostic System that helps you to gather much more information during your dental exams. This is accomplished by using a number of probes that are connected to the Microlux light source. My favorite light source is the .75 mm Proximal Caries tip. My hygienist and I can visualize posterior interproximal decay by placing the tip on the interproximal area of the tooth either buccal or lingual and caries will appear as a dark shadow on the occlusal surface. This will illuminate any caries not found in X-rays or it will confirm caries that are questionable on the X-ray. To visualize anterior proximal caries, place the tip on the facial cervical area of the tooth and examine the surface from the lingual with a mouth mirror. Posterior caries can also be detected by using the Endo Lite fiber tip but I prefer the .75 Proximal Caries tip. You can locate the orifices of a root canal by placing the light source either on the buccal or lingual in the gingival region. The canal orifice shows up as a dark circle. The Microlux is an amazing instrument. Subgingival calculus can be detected by placing the light source either on the buccal or lingual in the gingival area. Calculus will appear dark in contrast to the translucent enamel and dentin above and below the gingival tissue in the cervical area. If you are concerned about a tooth or root fracture, use the Proximal Caries tip and place it either on the buccal or lingual in the gingival sulcus. A fracture line will appear as a black line via transillumination as you look into the tooth preparation. Use the Perio probe to measure the depth of pockets and gingival recession. Insert the tip in the gingival sulcus and you will see the depth indications on the illuminated fiber tip. This is an innovative instrument that will improve examinations for both the dentist and the hygienist.

Visit www.addent.com for more information.

To have Dr. Joe Blaes present his lecture, "Pearls For Your Practice®," for your study group or dental society, please call (866) 274-4500.