Pearls for your practice

by Joe Blaes, DDS

Dryz™

from Parkell Inc.

Have you tried any of the chemical retraction pastes on the market? Personally, I have a very difficult time packing cord, not to

mention the time it adds to the procedure. I've tried many of the retraction pastes out there, and I've been happy with some and not so happy with others. I do like using a chemical retraction paste as compared to packing cord. I think the tissue around the teeth that I'm prepping is happy because it receives less damage. The Dryz™ product is very good when used by itself or in conjunction with cord (which I try to avoid) or compression caps. I like the consistency of the material because it stays where it's placed, but it's also easy to extrude right from the syringe. Dryz is effective at stopping gingival bleeding and seepage that may interfere with my final impression. The color of the material is light green. Which contrasts nicely with tooth structure, blood, and the gingival tissue so I can see where I've placed it. Using Dryz is simple. Prior to taking a final impression, I rinse and dry the prep and isolate the area with cotton rolls. I place a needle tip on the syringe of Dryz, and make sure it's secure. I then syringe the material right into and around the sulcus. Another nice feature is that there is no need for a separate dispensing gun for extruding the material. The aluminum chloride in the material is not only kinder to the tissues than a ferric sulfate, but it also won't stain or make the tissue slough. If you prefer, you can use a compression cap with Dryz should you need an extra push of the material into the sulcus. After about two minutes, the material is easily removed with copious amounts of water and a blast from an air syringe. The material will not leave a residue to interfere with impression materials or temporary cements. Dryz is also terrific for managing tissue when seating restorations, placing rubber dam clamps, bleaching teeth, and restoring subgingival or class V cavities. The material quickly controls seepage so that you can do your best restorative dentistry. Plus, Parkell offers a 45-day, risk-free trial when you order directly from them. If you don't like the material, simply call them. The company will pick up the material and give you a refund.

For more information or to order, call Parkell at (800) 243-7446 or visit www.parkell.com.

Fit Checker™ Advanced and Fit Checker™ Advanced Blue

from GC America.

I hope that most of you know about this great product that I've been using for years. I find I do more ceramic-type of restorations. Since the original Fit Checker™ is a white material, it is hard to see the problem areas. This is the most convenient material for checking high spots and pressure points in inlays, crowns, bridges, and dentures. Now you can adjust the right spots that are causing the problems instead of just guessing. Trim and adjust high spots by using a bur, and then check again by repeating the procedure if necessary. The chemists at GC America have combined the technologies of Fit Checker™ and EXA'lence™ for better handling of this new product. The new Fit Checker Advanced is a vinyl polyether silicone that is not affected by saliva, so it is more accurate than the previous Fit Checker materials. Simply fill the restoration with the material, seat the restoration, remove, and trim high spots where necessary. Fit Checker Advanced (white) and Fit Checker Advanced Blue come in a new and an easy-to-use cartridge system complete with mixing tips for quick placement of the material. It is much easier to dispense the correct amount just where you want it. No more messy hand mixing. This material has optimal flowability, an ideal transparency, and is less irritating to oral tissues. Fit Checker Advanced Blue has been created especially for checking the fit of all types of ceramic restorations to show high spots against the white background. It is also used as an ideal material to check the occlusion for high spots. These materials will give you excellent detail and accuracy with minimal film thickness. The material has excellent transparency for easy checking of the high spots and fit. When finished, the material peels away to leave a clean-fitting surface. Before cementing restorations, clean them with an alcohol wipe to remove any residual silicone oil. This could affect the adhesive quality of the cement. Fit Checker Advanced should not be used on the surface of silicone-based soft relines.

Visit www.gcamerica.com for more information.

Success Strategies for the Aesthetic Dental Practice

by Dr. Cathy Jameson and Dr. Linda Greenwall.

If you have been a dentist for any length of time, you've seen, read, met, or perhaps even become a client of Cathy Jameson. She's an outstanding person who has thrived for many years as a dental consultant. She constantly strives to help her many clients become the best they can be. Cathy and her husband, Dr. John Jameson, have been friends of mine for many years, so I'm proud to tell you about Cathy's latest achievement. She recently completed a doctorate in applied management with a focus on leadership and organization. Cathy has teamed up with Dr. Linda Greenwall, a dentist with a private practice in London, to pack her decades of experience and education into her latest book, Success Strategies for the Aesthetic Dental Practice. Dr. Greenwall is a specialist in restorative dentistry, a specialist in prosthodontics, and editor-in-chief of Aesthetic Dentistry Today. In addition, there are many contributing dentists who are well known for their esthetic dental practices. Available through Quintessence Publishing, this book features 17 chapters that delve into the marketing, financing, scheduling, and other systems involved with building the cosmetic aspect of a dental practice. Also included is the clinical approach to finding success with that expansion. The book's introduction points out that people from all generations are realizing how cosmetic dentistry can help them feel great about themselves. The book walks today's dental team members through the various steps required for successfully implementing esthetic options into daily treatment. From verbal skills in case presentation to developing the hygiene and treatment coordinator roles, I found this book to be a thorough package of well-organized, much-needed information for any dentist ready to redefine his or her cosmetic treatment options. The foreword, by Dr. Ronald E. Goldstein, mentions the growing importance of esthetic dentistry and encourages dentists to realize that being a successful cosmetic dentist reaches far beyond clinical skills, and into the systems Jameson and Greenwall address, such as marketing. Watching the Jameson Management team of advisors grow from John, Cathy, and a few others to the international firm it is today, I have noticed their commitment to a comprehensive approach. This book features that same tone. In the earliest chapters, you will revisit your mission, vision, and goals. You will rekindle an interest in being an excellent dentist, and you will learn how to effectively communicate with your team and patients about the critical factors of your business. Monitoring these systems, meeting your goals, and building your dream practice, including cosmetics, is spelled out clearly in this 288-page collection. Well done, Cathy and Dr. Greenwall. I look forward to hearing about this in the industry for years to come.

To order go to www.jamesonmanagement.com%252fproducts%252fbooks.php or call (877) 369-5558.