What? Another bonding agent?

Joseph Blaes, DDS

Pearl 1 -

OptiBond Solo Plus™ by Kerr. Here`s another new and improved one-bottle bonding agent. So who needs another bonding agent, and why should we care? OptiBond Solo Plus™ has added more filler to the bonding agent to better protect against microleakage. This added filler makes it faster and easier to apply the bonding agent to the tooth. This is a tricky material to describe. The filler seems to make the material thicker as you are applying it. You get that glossy look to the tooth very often with only one coat of the material. Here comes the tricky part. The resulting film thickness after you have light-cured the bonding agent is only 10 microns. So you now can use OptiBond Solo Plus™ to seat indirects (inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns, and posts) without an additional activator or multiple coats. I like this system because it is so simple to use. Apply, lightly dry, light-cure, and you are finished. OptiBond Solo Plus™ is available in either the traditional bottle or in the nifty single-unit dose (the famous rocket). Order from your dealer or call Kerr at (800) KERR 123.

Pearl 2 -

OralCDx® by Sullivan-Schein Dental. Oral cancer kills more people nationwide than skin cancer or cervical cancer. Recent studies show that benign-appearing, but potentially dangerous, oral lesions appear in 5 to 15 percent of the patients we see. Now for the first time, a tool takes the guesswork out of identifying the oral lesions that need further attention. You will never have to guess about the significance of an oral lesion again. OralCDx® is a computer-assisted, brush biopsy test for the detection of oral cancer. Now we have a rapid chairside procedure (similar to a pap smear) that requires no topical or local anesthetic. In the United States, a multicenter clinical trial of almost 1,000 patients was conducted at 35 academic dental centers. The outcome showed the OralCDx® test to be very precise. OralCDx® uncovered precancer or cancer among clinically benign-appearing lesions that would not have received additional testing or attention other than clinical follow-up, and which were judged harmless in appearance by experienced academicians. The complete study was published as the cover story in the October issue of JADA. This test is an extremely important benefit for your patients and another value-added benefit for your practice. There are two additional fees for the patient, one for the brush biopsy procedure that you performed and the second for the laboratory analysis. Both fees are reimbursed by the patient`s medical or dental insurance. You file a claim for the in-office procedure, and the OralScan Laboratory submits a claim for the lab analysis. The test kits are provided free of charge by Sullivan-Schein. Call (800) 560-4467 for an introductory package that contains an instructional video and five test kits. For more information, contact your Sullivan-Schein representative or visit www.oralcdx.com. Don`t procrastinate on this one - early detection could save a life in your practice.

Pearl 3 -

Steri-Tip by Great White, Inc. I came across this very innovative, well-designed air/water syringe tip at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. Using an adapter supplied by Steri-Tip, these tips are quick and easy to place on the syringe. The innovative adapter design allows for a variable spray - from a superfine mist to a coarse spray. There is no leaking, and they are strong enough to retract the cheek. Because of the design of the adapter and tip, very little maintenance is necessary. The low-cost tips help reduce overhead. Patients are very concerned about dental office cleanliness, and they expect us to use disposable items whenever possible. These tips were designed and are being marketed by two dentists. Call (973) 633-5963.

Pearl 4 -

Herbal Gum Therapies from The Natural Dentist. I have been using these products with great success in my practice. Try having your patients use Herbal Mouth and Gum Therapy as a rinse before you treat them. The product tastes good, and the tissue response is amazing. This is the only product of this kind that I know of that has been proved to be effective with an independent clinical study. These products are available in the drugstore, so you do not have to worry about inventory. Call (800) 615-6895 for details.

Pearl 5 -

LuxaFlow by Zenith. Whenever I teach a hands-on provisional class, I am always asked how to repair an air bubble or short margin when using a bis-acryl material. At the ADA meeting in Hawaii, I had an Australian dentist in the audience who had been told by his dental supplier that the only way to repair these defects was to use more of the bis-acryl. Wrong! He had to come all the way to Hawaii to find out that Zenith (Luxatemp) makes LuxaFlow, the first flowable composite formulated specifically as an add-on material for bis-acryl provisional materials. LuxaFlow`s composite viscosity provides excellent flowability that does not slump, and it can be conveniently applied with a syringe tip to ensure fast, easy, and precise placement. Light-cure and you are finished. LuxaFlow can be polished to achieve excellent esthetics. I could not practice without a flowable! Order from your dealer or call Zenith at (800) 662-6383 for more information.

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." He may be reached at (573) 686-2388.