In First Impressions George Freedman, DDS, gives readers a brief summary of products that have recently been introduced to dentistry, based on his clinical experience.
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STATIM G4 |
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The keys to effective dental sterilization include confidence, speed, instrument protection, and documentability. SciCan’s STATIM G4 offers unprecedented ease of use and total operator control. It sterilizes instruments and handpieces for virtually immediate reuse within 8 minutes, this effectively reducing the number of instrument kits that the dentist must stock for each operatory, significantly improving the bottom line. This rapid turnaround is possible because the STATIM G4 requires only a small quantity of water, steamed within seconds, for each cycle, therby eliminating instrument bottlenecks, and increasing clinical efficiency. This innovative steam technology is gentle on all dental instruments, particularly hollow ones. SciCan’s patented steam injection process combines with proprietary positive pressure pulse displacement technology to force air out of the sterilization chamber automatically. The fully removable cassettes have very thin stainless steel walls, permitting very rapid heating and cooling of the sterilization chamber. This can sterilize and dry instruments in far less time than older technologies. The STATIM G4’s high-resolution touchscreen control panel provides clearly displayed messages, including current cycle information. (The display is customizable at the dentist’s discretion.) It also offers networking capability that allows local or remote monitoring in real time as well as access to the cycle history, validation information, and sterilization records. In fact, cycle error information can be sent directly to the service technician. The STATIM G4 collects validation data to protect both the patient and the practice; the integrated DataLogger stores all the relevant information for the lifetime of the unit. Verifiable processes are PIN-keyed to staff member user IDs. This encourages additional attention to detail, creating a safe environment for both patients and staff.|
Gcomm Polaris LED Light |
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As in every other profession and environment, the days of incandescent and halogen lighting are numbered. Light-emitting diode (LED) technology is here to stay—at least for the foreseeable future. The dental profession has accepted LED light-curing almost universally in less than half a decade. Chairside illumination, whether post- or ceiling-mounted, is sure to follow. While most practitioners clearly appreciate the value of effective illumination of the working area and its effect on diagnostics and treatment, advanced optical studies have shown that appropriate illumination can greatly influence various biological processes. Flight Dental Systems has introduced the Gcomm Polaris Dental LED Light, combining the highest standards for chairside illumination while taking into account both visual and nonvisual factors. Images are created through a complex set of interactions that take place in the visual cortex of the brain; improving the illumination color and intensity increases visual acuity. This is the visual effect. On the other hand, the nonvisual effect encompasses biological rhythms, endocrine secretions, management of emotion, alertness level, and muscular tension, all of which are influenced by light intensity as well as color. The Gcomm Polaris can adjust light intensity from 8,000 to 35,000 lux to reduce eyestrain as it adapts to specific clinical applications. The Polaris’ color temperature ranges from 4,200°K to 6,000°K, useful in increasing alertness (higher temperatures) and metameric shade matching. The LED light source contains no UV or infrared wavelengths, and thus it produces no heat that can irritate patients, staff, or practitioners. Both light intensity and color temperature can be adjusted by the simple movement of a dial on the back of the light. The life expectancy of the Gcomm Polaris LED Light is approximately 50,000 hours. |
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Iveri In-Office Whitening System |
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Tooth whitening is one of the great drivers of dental practice. It brings patients to see the dentist. It encourages them to have the necessary restorative treatments that allow the teeth to be successfully destained. It motivates patient home care that protects the dentist’s efforts. And it prompts them to the dental practice for routine recare. The Iveri In-Office Whitening System utilizes a gel that consists of carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, potassium nitrate, and xylitol. This gel is safe and gentle for all teeth, including those that are sensitive even prior to bleaching treatment. The potassium nitrate eliminates virtually all dental sensitivity. The xylitol keeps the teeth hydrated during the whitening procedure and sweetens the bleaching solution. The tooth whitening is delivered by a concentrated blend of professional-strength carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. The Iveri Blue and Red LED lights enhance the whitening procedure while protecting the gingiva. The twin LED light wavelengths are used to activate the key ingredients in the gel. The 430 nm-490 nm Blue optimizes the whitening process while the 620 nm-640 nm Red rejuvenates cells to protect the soft tissues. The procedure is quite simple and straightforward: apply the cheek retractors, dry the teeth, and apply the liquid gingival protection dam. Coat the gingiva with the supplied vitamin E to prevent irritation and discomfort. Insert the gel-lined tray into the mouth w|
Shield Force Plus |
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Tooth sensitivity continues to be one of the major patient complaints presenting in the practice. While there are many products that are offered to combat this common problem, not all are created equal. The dental team requires a desensitizer that is easy to apply, comfortable for the patient, and can be delivered quickly by the dentist or delegated to an auxiliary. Tokuyama’s Shield Force Plus is a single-component, light-cured desensitizer, designed to infiltrate dentinal tubules and inhibit the flow of moisture through them, that can be used for both the active treatment of existing hypersensitivity and the prophylactic desensitization of prepared tooth surfaces. Its double-block technology seals the dentinal tubules for both short- and long-term protection against tooth sensitivity. Shield Force Plus seals the dentinal tubules quickly with resin tags that extend up to 50 µm in a simplified 30-second procedure: apply to the tooth surface with a brush, leave for 10 seconds, air-dry, and light-cure for 10 seconds. (It is a good idea to floss the interproximal contacts to eliminate residual materials.) It forms crosslinks to apatite on the tooth surface and calcium ions in the tooth structure, the unique chemistry resulting in a uniform and thin surface coating layer and deep tubular penetration. The single-component liquid is green on application to facilitate placement visualization but polymerizes completely clear. Shield Force Plus provides a durable shield that not only blocks sensitivity but also prevents dentinal loss due to abrasion. Refrigeration is the recommended storage mode, but patients are more comfortable when the liquid is applied to their sensitive teeth at room temperature.Dr. Freedman is a founder and past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a co-founder of the Canadian Academy for Esthetic Dentistry, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. He is a visiting professor at the Universita di Firenze, Florence, Italy. He is the materials editor for Dentistry Today. He is the author or co-author of 11 textbooks, including his most recent textbook Contemporary Esthetic Dentistry (Elsevier), more than 700 dental articles, and numerous webinars and CDs, and is a team member of REALITY. He lectures internationally on dental aesthetics, adhesion, desensitization, composites, impression materials, and porcelain veneers. A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Dr. Freedman maintains a private practice limited to aesthetic dentistry in Toronto. He can be reached at (905) 513-9191 or epdot@rogers.com.
