• Home
• Topics
• Online CE Certificates
• Dental DVDs
• Hot Posts
• News
• Advertise

RSS

 

Tru-Align Positioning System: An Accurate Way to Take Intraoral X-Ray Images?

Dr. V. asks:

One of the problems I have to deal with on a daily basis is that many of the assistants in our multi-dentist office cannot take radiographs. Unfortunately, some of them worked in offices where they were only required to get a part of the tooth in question in the radiograph. I consistently have to re-shoot radiographs or have one of the more experienced assistants re-shoot. This slows me down considerably and wastes a lot of chair time. Patients also get upset when they have to have another dose of radiation. One of my colleagues has started using the Tru-Align Positioning System which has a rectangular collimator at the end of the cone and uses visual and auditory signals to verify that everything is in the correct position. Has anybody tried out this system? I am willing to invest in it if it works, but I’m interested in any real-life data?

Editor’s Note: According to the manufacturer of Tru-Align:

“Tru-Align is a new position-indicating device (PID) collimator that helps correctly position intraoral x-ray units and eliminates guesswork by automatically signaling when perfect alignment has been achieved during the x-ray making process…Tru-Align is a cost-effective, fast and incredibly accurate way to take all intraoral x-ray images – whether using film, phosphor plates or digital sensors. In addition to virtually eliminating cone cuts and most retake needs, Tru-Align can be used to train your staff on how to take precise intraoral x-ray images – the first time, every time.”

Thermafil Carriers: Difficulty Removing Gutta-Percha

Dr. A. asks:

I recently started using Thermafil Carriers (DENTSPLY) to obturate root canal preparations made with ProTaper nickel titanium rotary files. The system works great. The canals are obturated beautifully. I am doing more endo than ever before because it is so quick and easy with these two systems. The only problem I am having is that I find it really difficult to remove gutta-percha and the centeral plastic portion of the carrier. I have skidded off the plastic portion of the central core of the carrier and nearly perforated the canal walls on several occasions. Can anyone recommend burs that I can use for this purpose that will get the job done but minimize the chance of perforation? Any other suggestions?

Press Form Kit from Ellman: Comparable Products?

Anon. ask:

I recently saw the Ellman Press Form Kit at a show. It produces clear plastic shells for making temporary crowns. You heat up a thin sheet of plastic over a Bunsen burner and place it on a preoperative cast. You use a mound of silicone putty to burnish the plasticized shell material against the cast. It creates a really accurate shell and it takes less than two minutes to do the whole thing. Is there anything comparable to this on the market? What has been your experience with the Press Form Kit?

V3 Ring: A Major Improvement for Sectional Matrix Ring for Class II Composites?

Dr. F. asks:
Getting good proximal contact in Class II composites has always been a problem for me. I have been having more success since I started using the V-Ring made by Triodent. Now the same company has come out with an improved version that is supposed to make the original V-Ring obsolete. The new model is called the V3 Ring and has plastic tips that can provide support for wider Class II composite cavity preparations. Is the V3 Ring that much better? These rings are just so expensive. Will I get that much more bang for my buck? What are you thoughts?

Editor’s Note:

According to Triodent some of the benefits of the new V3 Ring are that since it is made entirely from Nickel Titanium, “it has superior memory retention meaning V3 will return to its original shape, consistently deliver optimal separating force and will not expand over time like stainless steel can.”

Additionally, “V3’s plastic tines are shaped to suit the buccel and lingual surfaces of posterior teeth, thus providing superior adaptation and the ability to restore a tooth even when a cusp is missing.”

Air Bubbles in Flowable Resin Composites?

I have found air bubbles in every flowable resin composite that I have tried. Whenever I call the manufacturer or the distributor, they assure me that no one else has complained about this. Apparently I am the only one that has this problem. This costs me a great deal of chair time. I drill out the bubbles and inject resin to cover the defect. I am really badly in the need of a flowable resin-composite that is not filled with air bubbles. Does anyone else out there have this problem? Are there any flowable resin composites on the market that you recommend?

Curing Lights: Recommendations?

Dr. L. asks:

I need new curing lights. I have two operatories and want to use the same one in both rooms. I have no idea which curing light to buy. There are so many on the market and every company says that their product is the best and the others have problems. However, I am not an engineer and I do not understand the literature on this. I would very much appreciate if some of you more technically oriented dentists could make some recommendations based on your real-life experience. What are the real benefits of some curing lights over others? Money is no object here.

PrepCheck Prep-Marking System: A Good Solution for Crown Preparation?

Dr. F asks:

One of the problems I have always had is over, or under-reducing the occlusal on molars. Either I cut away too much and decrease the retention and resistance forms or I do not cut enough away to make room for the porcelain.

I have tried to use a piece of baselplate wax to gauge the reduction. I have also tried utility wax that I ball up and have the patient bite on. In addition, I have also tried making the temporary crown before I take the final impression and looking at my occlusal room. None of this has worked for me.

I saw an advertisement for PrepCheck made by Common Sense Dental. This is a rubberized strip with articulating paper on one side. Comes in 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm thicknesses. You have the patient bite on the strip and it shows where you need to reduce more. Sounds great. But, these are expensive. Has anyone tried these? What do you think?

Editor’s Note:
According to Common Sense Dental:

“PrepCheck promotes adequate reduction allowing ideal thickness of the final restoration and ensures superior strength and aesthetics. PrepCheck’s special coating marks the tooth in areas that need to be reduced.”

• Recent Posts

  • Implant Excellence: Five Steps to Grow Your Dental Implant Practice
  • Online Course: Achieving Esthetic Predictability in Perio-Implantology - Part 1
  • Kerr Introduces Vertise Flow: A Self-Adhering Composite
  • DASK Sinus Elevation Kit
  • DVD: Implant Dentistry and Extraction Site Bone Grafting
  • A New Treatment for Pain Following Third Molar Extraction Dental Surgery?
  • ILUMA Elite Cone Beam CT Scanner
  • Zimmer Adjustable Torque Wrench Offers Improved Design and Precision
  • Class IV Restoration Online Lecture: Maximizing Esthetics and Predictability
  • Guided Surgery for the Immediate Loading of Implant: DVD

Copyright © 2008DDSGadget.com