Joseph Blaes, DDS
Pearl 1 -
SureLoc by Van R Dental Products. When I use disposable impression trays, usually the impression material pulls away from the tray, no matter how many holes or how much adhesive I put on. To solve this problem, Van R has come up with a nifty disposable impression tray system called SureLoc. It is a rigid tray that also has a porous quality that bonds any impression material with a mechanical lock. SureLoc`s rigid construction gives you an optimum seating compression of a nonperforated tray, yet you can easily and quickly trim it with a blade or a lab carbide for a truly custom fit. It has a nice anatomical design that requires little advanced trimming for patient comfort. SureLoc eliminates the need for any messy tray adhesive. The only problem is that a full-arch tray is not available. The impression tray comes in a half-arch left, half-arch right, and anterior sizes. Order from your dealer. For details, call Van R at (800) 833-8267 or visit www.vanr.com.
Pearl 2 -
The IBC Brush by Ultradent. This is a must-have item for every treatment room, including hygiene. I use these tiny brushes for every imaginable procedure that requires some form of polishing. They are great for polishing close to the gingival because they are soft and do not tend to damage the tissue and cause bleeding. The hygienist loves them for cleaning in all those hard-to-reach places like orthodontic brackets. The bristles spread out, clean well, and do not fall out or get droopy. To order, call Ultradent at (800) 552-5512.
Pearl 3 -
Improved Model of Zeon Illuminator by Orascoptic Research. Orascoptic has made some significant improvements in this illuminator system. The box that houses the light source is smaller and lighter, and it has a recessed handle for ease of movement. There are now dual intensity controls with an adjustable iris to control intensity while maintaining constant color temperature. The other intensity control adjusts the voltage intensity to increase the life of the bulb. The fiber-optic cable is lighter and easier to adapt to your magnifying glasses. Once you add this illuminator to your treatment room, you can forget about handpiece fiber optics. The bottom line is that you will see better, feel better, and perform better because you can see better! Beware: Once you use this, you will never use any other light source! To order, call (800) 369-3698 or visit www.orascoptic.com.
Pearl 4 -
Etch-Rite by Pulpdent. This is a 38 percent phosphoric acid etching gel for acid-etching dentin and enamel. So what, you ask - another etching material? The difference is in the packaging. Pulpdent has come up with a bulk package that we really like in our office. It comes with a 50 ml bulk storage syringe and five 3 ml empty syringes. The bulk syringe has a luer lock fitting that the 3 ml syringe locks into, so there is no possibility of leakage or any mess when refilling syringes. The kit includes 50 prebent tips for use with the 3 ml syringe. To order, call (800) 343-4342 or visit www.pulpdent.com.
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Dr. Blaes has a general practice in the St. Louis area. He is known for his expertise in dental materials and techniques and his innovative systems designs. He writes and lectures on "How To Increase Productivity and Profitability." Dr. Blaes is a member of the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration. He may be reached at (573) 686-2388.
