Pearls for your practice

by Joe Blaes, DDS

Sof-Lex™ Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels

from 3M ESPE.

These wheels are a new way to put the final natural-looking gloss on restorations. With an innovative spiral shape that adapts to tooth surfaces, Sof-Lex dental finishing and polishing wheels give dentists a versatile and simple alternative to traditional points, cups, discs, and brushes. I have been using 3M's contouring and polishing discs for longer than I care to remember to polish materials that I do not even remember the names of. The primary goal of finishing is to create a restoration that has good contour, occlusion, healthy

embrasure forms, and smoothness. Finishing and polishing procedures remove the air-inhibited layer, contour and shape the restoration, create surface characterization, and produce surfaces with a high gloss. Tight margins of the restoration should blend esthetically into the tooth's natural contours. Good embrasure forms and smooth surfaces are less likely to trap food debris and collect plaque. Where it comes in contact with gingival tissue, the polish should be smooth enough to be well tolerated. With what I have always called 3M's "sand paper discs," I have been able to reshape and contour most composite restorations by moving through the various grits of coarse to fine to end up with a fairly smooth restoration. At this point, to get rid of the fine scratches and get that highly polished finish on the material, I needed to move to other polishing agents. Now, with the advent of Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels, I have found a new system to quickly and easily give my restorations that final high-gloss, natural-looking surface. These new dental finishing and polishing wheels are designed with flexible spiral "fingers" that adapt to anterior and posterior surfaces. The fingers of the dental finishing and polishing wheels conform to convex and concave surfaces as they move across the restoration, so there is no need to switch shapes during the procedure to fit various contours. Abrasive particles are embedded throughout the dental finishing and polishing wheels, so effective dental finishing and polishing can be achieved from any side--top, bottom, or edge. With just one shape, and with no water-cooling necessary (because of low heat generation), I can use dental finishing and polishing wheels from any angle and quickly achieve a lifelike luster. The single-use dental finishing and polishing wheels have a simple two-step system. I use the fine Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing Wheel (beige) to remove minor scratches and prepare the surface for high-gloss polishing. Then, the superfine Sof-Lex Spiral Polishing Wheel (white) can be used to complete the procedure. 3M has really simplified the system by designing these finishing and polishing spiral wheels to fit the same mandrel as the Sof-Lex discs so you can move efficiently through your contouring, finishing, and polishing procedures. I encourage you to try this remarkable new polishing system. It sure makes these procedures faster, better, and easier.

Visit www.3mespe.com/soflex for more information.

Ceraresin Bond Porcelain & Resin Repair System

from Shofu Dental.

Picture an emergency patient who has come into the office with a "broken tooth." Your assistant seats the patient, and the patient

immediately points to an anterior crown that has a piece of porcelain broken off the incisal corner. In my experience, I have not had much long-term success in repairing porcelain. Usually, my repair comes off and the patient is back in the chair, and is upset that it broke again. At this point, I remake the crown, usually at my expense. I have recently tried Ceraresin Bond in these circumstances with excellent adhesion and with no loss of the repaired restoration. Ceraresin Bond can be used to modify porcelain restorations quickly and efficiently with light-curing materials. Ceraresin bonds to porcelain, ceramic, resin, acrylic, and metal (metal exposure requires ML Primer [metal/liquid primer] PN 1740). It is resistant to moisture and thermal strains on the restoration. The procedure has been simplified and is quick and easy to use. Ceraresin Bond does not require the use of a special composite since it is compatible with all resins and composites. It is a very stable material with a three-year shelf life. This is the solution that I have been looking for to repair or add to porcelain, ceramics, and resins.

Visit www.shofu.com or call (800) 827-4638 for more information.

Honigum Rigid X-tra Fast & Honigum Mono QuadFast

from DMG America.

These are the latest additions to the line of Honigum outcome-enhancing impression materials. In my opinion, Dr. Joe Massad is the preeminent instructor of denture prosthetics. He has developed and teaches techniques that have simplified the placement of dentures. His research has made the process easier for dentists around the world. The real winners in all of this are the patients, who end up with superior fitting and functioning dentures. Dr. Massad contacted DMG America to help him develop an impression material

that would complement his techniques. Dr. Massad has created a unique thermoplastic impression tray that can be heated and adjusted to exactly fit the patient's arch form. He was looking for an impression material that would take the perfect edentulous impression without any distortions. DMG America has produced Honigum Rigid X-tra Fast to meet Dr. Massad's specifications. This is a thixotropic impression material that will stay where you put it. Thus, it will only move under load. The first step is to create stops for accurate reseating of the tray. The locations on the maxillary tray are the distal ends of the tray, anterior, and palatal arch. The locations on the mandibular tray are the distal ends of the tray and the anterior segment. Apply a thin layer of tray adhesive to the tray and its borders. To border mold, simply apply Honigum Rigid X-tra Fast into the tray and onto its borders. Replace the tray into the mouth no later than 1 minute and 15 seconds after the start of mixing in the correct position indicated by the stops. Then have the patient go through the series of functional movements. Here is a tip: The material sets faster in the mouth than on the bench. It is advisable to insert the tray as quickly as possible to allow enough time for the functional movements before the material is set. Please remember this X-tra Fast material. Remove the tray earliest 1 minute and 30 seconds after insertion. Check and mark up any areas where the tray's borders are exposed. Cut away excess material with a scalpel or silicone bur. Trim down exposed areas with the bur and reapply tray adhesive. Apply suitable correction material to the tray/impression and follow the molding steps given above. If there are parts of the tray that are missing material, especially in the palate, use Honigum Mono QuadFast to fill in these areas. This material is a faster-setting version of Honigum Mono. Get these materials and follow these techniques, and you will get amazing edentulous impressions and patients will love their dentures. Another tip: Honigum Mono QuadFast is also a new, faster, and highly accurate material for single-unit crown-and-bridge impressions. Dr. Massad has one of the best and most beautifully decorated combinations of a dental office, learning center, and video production center that I have ever seen. You will be amazed at how many things he can teach you about dentistry. Located in Tulsa, Okla., he can be reached at [email protected] .

Visit www.dmg-america.com for more information on this great new impression material that has been developed for a specific technique for better dentistry for patients.

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