IMS® (Instrument Management System) by Hu-Friedy - How do you organize your instruments? If you’re like me, you probably don’t care as long as you have the instruments you need, when you need them. A number of years ago, we were using a tray system that everyone (doctor, assistants, and hygienists) had a hand in setting up. It worked fine for a while, but the clinical assistants noticed that the number of instruments was increasing and the trays were becoming difficult to close. At a staff meeting, the assistants announced that we were going to have an instrument meeting. The rules were simple: They would open a tray, hand me an instrument, and give me 20 seconds to identify its use. If I could not, it would be removed from the tray. We very quickly got things under control. About that time, we were introduced to Hu-Friedy’s Instrument Management System. IMS was our answer. It kept things organized but, most importantly, the system prevented us from wasting valuable time searching for instruments. It also taught us that it is less expensive to buy more instruments than to hire another person to sterilize more frequently. Buy enough instruments to get you through a full day of patients. By doing so, you have built in room for growth, and if your sterilizer stops working (heaven forbid), you can finish the day because you have enough instruments. We found we could schedule more patients because we were practicing more efficiently than ever. An efficient system and enough instruments remove the stress of constant instrument sterilization by clinical team members, allowing them to focus on patient care. Order your Instrument Management System from your dealer or contact Hu-Friedy for excellent assistance in setting up your personal system by calling (800) 483-7433 or visiting www.hu-friedy.com.
Epiphany® Soft Resin Endodontic Obturation System by Pentron Clinical - We all know that successful root canal therapy depends on a system of treatment including microbial control, cleaning and shaping, and sealing the canals. The success of the whole thing really depends on the last step! We have a bunch of materials and techniques to accomplish this, but none of them seems to have definitively stopped the coronal and apical leakage that eventually leads to failure. With the introduction of the Epiphany System featuring Resilon™ resin-based obturation material, a new benchmark for obturation materials has been set. The Epiphany system features Resilon points and pellets, and uses a self-etching primer on the dentin walls of the canals. This is followed with a dual-cure sealer that adheres to the dentin walls and to the Resilon filling material, creating a monoblock which resists microleakage and strengthens the root. This bonded system eliminates the shrinkage and gaps associated with gutta percha and sealers. An instant coronal seal can be accomplished by light-curing the Epiphany in the chamber for 40 seconds, and the sealer self-cures inside the canal within 45 minutes. If you are looking for peace of mind, you need to be using Epiphany as your obturation system of choice. The benefits of this product are: 1) you get a seal significantly better than other methods; 2) it strengthens the root; 3) it can be easily retrieved by conventional methods; 4) it is highly radiopaque; and 5) it can be used with any technique with no learning curve. To order, call (800) 551-0283 or visit www.pentron.com for more information. Resilon is a trademark of Resilon Research, LLC.
Vitrebond™ Plus by 3M ESPE - Twenty-five years ago, all of my restorations, both direct and indirect, were protected by glass ionomer liners. These liners did not require any pretreatment of the dentin. I hardly ever had sensitivity problems and it was reassuring to know that if I did have any marginal leakage, the glass ionomer would release fluoride to protect the dentin from new decay. The only problem was that it was messy to measure and mix, and it took a while to set up. When the dentin adhesives came along, I drifted away from glass ionomers. Recently, I have returned to using them with some of the new systems available. Now, 3M ESPE is launching Vitrebond Plus, a new light-cured glass ionomer liner/base that utilizes their popular Clicker™ delivery system, which ensures a consistent mix of the new paste-liquid formula. This new material handles better than any product I have tried. It is easy to place, stays put, and is easy to see. The curing time is much faster because you simply light-cure the Vitrebond Plus for 20 seconds. It is radiopaque so you can tell what it is when you see it on an X-ray later. And don’t forget, you get excellent adhesion without any pretreatment of the dentin. With this material, you can reduce the effect of polymerization shrinkage associated with composite resin material. Vitrebond Plus provides protection for all types of restorations, both direct and indirect. You will notice excellent performance under composite, amalgam, ceramic, and metal, along with greatly reduced sensitivity. Vitrebond Plus delivers great adhesion with any dental adhesive system. Order from your dealer or call (800) 634-2249 for more information.
NexTemp™ Temporary Resin Cement from Premier Dental Products Company - Does your practice have problems with temporaries coming off between the prep and seating appointments? In my opinion, this is probably one of the worst appointments in dentistry! This appointment means a loss of time for the patient, loss of time for everyone in the office, and a cost to turn around a treatment room. Do yourself a favor and get some of this great new cement that is eugenol-free but has potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity and act as a sedative to the pulp. NexTemp contains chlorhexidine, a proven antibacterial agent. It has a resin matrix formulation that provides a good marginal seal with no washout over time. NexTemp quickly goes to an initial gel set that allows easy removal of excess cement. All of this is packaged in a convenient automix syringe that saves time mixing and guarantees a consistent mix every time. NexTemp comes in a neutral shade that will blend esthetically with your temporary restorations. Order NexTemp from your dealer and solve your temporary problems! For additional information, visit www.premusa.com or call (888) 670-6100.
Adhesive Reference Guide from Kuraray Dental -Have you ever wished you could get all the information on clinical procedures in one place rather than doing a literature search on your own? Well, Kuraray has solved your problem by putting together a notebook that contains many informational pieces including clinical articles from the experts in adhesive research. The guide also contains technical reports, informative newsletters, and Web-based course references all aimed at helping to clarify the confusion regarding adhesive bonding. I am sure you will enjoy reading all of the information contained in this guide. Many of the educational pieces can provide CE credits - up to 13 in all. A complete Kuraray catalog is included in the guide with complete information on their products plus “how to use” sections that clarify when and where to use the products. The Adhesive Reference Guide is free, and you can request it by visiting the Kuraray Web site at www.kuraraydental.com and sending an e-mail from the “Contact Us” section, or call (800) 879-1676.
The eStylus System by Midwest from Dentsply Professional - I have been singing the praises of electric handpieces since I first started using one six or seven years ago. The use of an electric motor to power the handpiece we use to cut teeth has revolutionized dentistry for me. The electric motor provides a constant torque to the handpiece that allows me to cut teeth with more precision than with an air-driven handpiece. As a result, the patient hears much less noise and feels no vibration. Midwest is one of the great names in handpiece manufacturing. They now have an electric handpiece system called eStylus. This system comes with both high-speed autochuck and a slow-speed latch chuck that will accept a broad range of cutting instruments. A color band on the attachment matches the color on the button on the control panel for easy identification and use. The only way to experience the eStylus system is to try it for yourself. Your Midwest representative will be happy to let you try the eStylus in your office. I suggest you schedule a significant case to try this electric handpiece technology. The eStylus will connect to your air-driven handpiece system in less than five minutes. If you try the eStylus on an exhibit floor, really give it a test by sinking the diamond about a quarter of an inch into the piece of bone and then try to stall the bur. I don’t think you’ll be able to do it! To order, contact your dealer. To contact your Midwest representative, call (800) 989-8826 or visit www.professional.dentsply.com for more information.
