Brush has all kinds of uses

Joseph Blaes, DDS

Pearl #1 - Intracoronal Bristle Brush by ICB Brush Company. Every once in a while, someone comes along with a great idea to fill a void in our dental procedures. This is the case with the ICB brush. This unique mandrel-mounted brush is an excellent size and shape (3 mm long and 2 mm wide) to allow access to areas that we have no way to clean, such as the inside of cavity preparations and along crown margins. The nylon bristles have been rounded for safety around gingival tissue. Use with or without pumice for excellent cleaning. I find that they actually seem to work better without any abrasive, which saves cleanup time. They are great for pedo prophies and around ortho brackets. ICB brushes are designed for use in your slow-speed, latch-type, contra-angle handpieces. They are inexpensive enough to be disposable, but they can be sterilized many times as well. This is a great idea that needs to be in your treatment room. You will find all kinds of uses for them. Call (888) 827-8745 to place your order.

Pearl #2 - Fuji Plus Capsules by GC America. Thanks to GC, we now have a resin-reinforced, glass-ionomer cement in a capsule for easy, consistent mixes. It is easy to use with remarkable strength, sustained fluoride release, and excellent biocompatibility. Fuji Plus bonds to metal and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and bridges, inlays, and onlays. It also bonds to all types of core build-up material. It bonds chemically to the tooth with a significant, long-term fluoride release. This cement is great because of the low film thickness it exhibits. The bond strengths are higher than other comparable cements. This is a cement that sets quickly, too. In about 30 seconds, the material is in a rubbery stage, ready to be removed. Fuji Plus gives you a quick and easy cementing technique. The cement is a translucent color for good blending with tooth structure. Give it a try. I think you will like it. Order from your dealer or call GC for more information at (800) 323-7063.

Pearl #3 - "Smile After Smile" by High Impact Marketing. This almost sounds like a song title, but it is a great new videotape from Dr. Tom Hughes. It is a full-color video to show your patients the dramatic before-and-after results of cosmetic and restorative dentistry. This video is great because you can run it either with the soothing background music or with no sound at all. "Smile After Smile" showcases the smiling success stories of more than 60 actual patients. Through the magic of "morphing," your patients will marvel as they see "before" photos seamlessly transform into beautiful "after" photos, helping them to visualize the improvements that you can offer. This video has the best morphing I have ever seen. Thanks, Tom, for another really terrific marketing tool that educates the patient to the possibilities. Call High Impact Marketing at (719) 488-0808 for more information about the "Smile After Smile" videotape.

Pearl #4 - Perfecta 3/15 by American Dental Hygienics. This is a new bleach that has just been brought on the market. We were introduced to it at the CDA meeting in Anaheim. Everyone at the office has tried and been delighted with the results. Now, you can have whitening in minutes, not hours. This revolutionary hydrogen peroxide gel requires only 15 minutes of wear time. With Perfecta 3/15, your patients will get the same or better results as with the traditional carbamide peroxide gels ... in less time. Tooth-whitening has never been faster, easier, or more effective. And we have found that sensitivity is no longer a problem with this product. ADH has incorporated a buffering agent so that the material is dispensed at a pH of 7. It also is water-based, which causes less dehydration than other formulas. With short wear times two or three times a day, patient acceptance is better. Compliance is improved. The gel is very sticky so that it stays on the teeth where it will work. None of us had any tissue irritation or burning. Give this one a try! I think it will be the next generation of bleaching agents. To place your order, call American Dental Hygienics at (800) 832-7483.

Pearl #5 - IPS Empress™ by Ivoclar Williams. I have been using IPS Empress™ for over four years for veneers, inlays, onlays, and selected full crowns. I was first attracted to the technique by the wear characteristics of the material against natural dentition, and I have not been disappointed. The plus is exciting, new esthetic options with great-looking shades that make my finished product look really good. Empress has been a wonderful material to work with. Now, you can offer your patients the exceptional esthetic option of metal-free restorations. The all-ceramic Empress restorative system, with its unique leucite-reinforced ceramic material, offers exceptional esthetics and wear-compatibility (as I mentioned). You must follow the recommended preparation instructions to achieve exceptional marginal integrity. Those of you who have been impressed with other all-ceramic systems will marvel at the unparalleled beauty and natural vitality of Empress. The strength of the system is incredible. I have placed many of these restorations and have had only a handful of failures (that`s less than five). In looking at the reasons for failure, most were due to the preparation of the tooth. I know that many of you already use this system, but I also know from the comments I receive around the country that many of you are reluctant to try nonmetal, reinforced crowns. I find that many of my patients complain of allergies to metals. The Empress material is biocompatible and will not cause allergy problems. So come on into the 21st century and try some of this wonderful material! You will not be disappointed with the results, and your patients will love the way their teeth look. Perhaps they will let you do even more Empress crowns in their mouths! For more information on IPS Empress™, contact your laboratory or call Ivoclar at (800) 5-DENTAL.

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 (314) 434-6808.