Waterpik Promax
It is undeniable that flossing is a valuable aid in maintaining good oral hygiene, reducing bad breath, and eliminating plaque. However, not everyone has the dexterity to adequately clean between each tooth. Waterpik’s new Promax Water Flosser makes it quite simple to significantly remove plaque and unwanted food debris while reducing bleeding gums and restoring gingival health.
The Promax Water Flosser has a sleek countertop design and there are 10 intensity settings that make it easy to use with their Smart Advance mode. This mode gently takes patients from the lower setting of Promax 3 to the optimal deep-cleaning level of Promax 9 in a slow and steady progression. All Sum Research has shown that there is a reduction in bleeding upon probing from a baseline in about six weeks.1 The reduction complements the American Academy of Periodontology’s definition of gingival health as having less than 10% bleeding sites.2 Of course, results are dependent on patient compliance, and in part due to its new precision tip—which can easily rotate 360°—and precision pulse technology.
This unit comes with five tips, which makes it useful for the entire family, and has a water reservoir that holds about 90 seconds of water supply. It is very quiet and includes a three-year warranty. Additionally, the Promax Water Flosser is ideal and more effective than tooth-brushing and using string floss around implants and orthodontic braces and wires. This is must-have to help ensure good oral health!
References
1. Lyle DM, et al. Study conducted at All Sum, Inc. Mississauga, ON, Canada. Data on file, September 2025.
2. Chapple ILC, Mealey BL, Van Dyke TE, Bartold PM et al. Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: Consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workship on the Classifications of Periodontal and Peri-Implant diseases and conditions. J Periodontol. 2018;89(Suppl1):S74-S84.
Beautifil II Gingiva Shades
We all know our population is aging, so I ask you one question: Got pink? I have had this kit for over 10 years, and in my opinion, is a must-have for two simple reasons. First, as our population ages, we are seeing more gingival recession, and we know that many times the class V cervical restoration extends onto the exposed root surface. This then requires adapting your composite and blending it into the root structure, and all too often our only option is a yellow/brown composite that is darker than enamel and/or dentin. Second, we often see patients with a high smile line, and this almost always necessitates the use of this pink composite when restoring anterior, labial/cervical lesions. In both cases, the objective should be to bring the gum to the tooth, not extend the tooth to the gum!
Beautifil II Gingiva shade composites are the same excellent composite resin in Beautifil II, now available in five varying shades of pink: light pink, dark pink, orange, brown, and violet. Of course, the Beautifil II Gingiva material has the renowned Giomer Technology that releases and recharges fluoride, neutralizes acids, and helps to inhibit plaque accumulation.
Often the decay extends under a crown, and in this case, I use Shofu’s DentaLaze (a soft-tissue diode laser) to ablate the invaginated tissue around the margin, thereby allowing me to evaluate and restore the decayed area, thus salvaging the crown and/or bridge. The pink shades allow you to really be creative in covering exposed crown and/or bridge margins. Pink composite enables you to achieve a highly esthetic result with polychromatic restorations that blend gingiva to the tooth. So, if the question is “got pink?” Shofu has the answer.
MTA vpt
Almost daily we see patients that report sensitivity to varying degrees of hot and cold temperatures. Causation can vary from an exposed root surface to carious exposure, to leaky margins on a crown or restoration or tooth fracture, to name the most common incidents. Diagnosis can be made by clinical and radiographic examination, and then a solution must be drawn that is both effective and reliable in protecting the pulp’s vitality, creating a seal against bacteria, and maintaining a protective seal. MTA vpt (Mineral Trioxide Aggregate for vital pulp therapy) is a key solution to achieve this positive outcome.
During its chemical reaction, calcium and hydroxide ions are released, which assist in the formation of reparative dentin and regeneration of pulpal tissue. The result is a bacteriostatic appetite formation of tertiary dentin. MTA vpt contains tricalcium silicate, which is directly responsible for its tight seal and is safe for indirect, direct pulp-capping to preserve the vitality of any remaining pulpal tissue. Once it has approximately three minutes to set, it is suggested that a flowable composite or resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) be placed over the MTA vpt, and the final restoration can be completed with a direct or indirect composite.
MTA vpt requires hand-mixing or is available in an applicator capsule form that must be triturated. In either format, it is a great product that offers a high pH value (12) and 290% Aluminium radiopacity, resulting in a good outcome for the patient.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the June 2026 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
