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

RSS

 

Vitallium Plus: How is This Alloy Different?

Dr. E. asks:

There is a new removable partial denture alloy from DENTSPLY called Vitallium Plus. Does anybody know how this is any different from plain old vitallium? Does this have another metal in the alloy mix that gives it improved properties? They advertise this as fitting more accurately and resisting deformation better. Has anybody tried this new alloy? Do you notice any difference?

Editor’s Note: According to Dentsply,

“Vitallium 2000 Plus is the new standard for premium chrome cobalt alloys. This alloy provides physical and mechanical properties never before attainable in chrome cobalt alloys.
Vitallium 2000 Plus has a higher yield and tensile strength and it also has increased flexibility without deformation or fracture, allowing for excellent adjustability. It also has an elongation over twice that of regular Vitallium.”

Unicore Drill: Easily Remove Thermafil?

I really love the Thermafil gutta-percha carriers from Tulsa Dental. Since I started using that system, my success rate has increased dramatically.

The only problem I have had, though, is drilling out the post space. I have had a lot of trouble doing this and I am always worried about perforating the root canal wall. Also, I often feel my bur being deflected by the Thermafil central plastic carrier rod.

Ultradent has a fiber post and drill system called UniCore. Ultradent claims that their new drill will easily remove the Thermafil carrier. Has anybody tried this drill and does it work?

According to Ultradent:

“The UniCore drill represents the pinnacle of engineering and design for post drills. Comprised of durable materials and innovative, one-of-a-kind features, the UniCore drill is the the finest, most refined drill available.

The UniCore drill can be used up to 15 times to remove Thermafil, gutta percha, or composite from canals, or it can remove up to 5 pre-existing fiber posts. No other drill is as efficient in removing obturators while also preparing a post chamber that is perfectly suited to a corresponding post.”

SmartCem2 : The Ideal Cement?

Dr. I. asks:

DENTSPLY has recently come out with SmartCem2 which is supposed to be better than the original SmartCem. I like the fact that it is self-etching, so I don’t need a separate bonding sequence in addition to the cementation. Also, I like the self-etching cements because there is no post-op sensitivity. I have been using RelyX-Unicem now for two years and this stuff is great. Is there any reason for me to consider using SmartCem2? Should I switch?

According to Dentsply:

“SmartCem2 is a self-adhesive cement… The real benefit of SmartCem2 is the application and handling compared to the other self-adhesive cements on the market. Because it uses an automix delivery system, it means you avoid the hassle associated with hand mixing and ensures you always have enough material to hand (unlike capsules where you can easily run out of material mid-way through the procedure).

The “gel-phase” of SmartCem2 ensures easy clean-up of material and can be initiated quickly with a few seconds of a curing light, reducing the waiting time and ensuring a quicker total procedure. SmartCem2 is available in five shades (light, medium, dark, translucent and opaque) to ensure an aesthetic result. ”

Carbides for Crown Preps

There are a number of carbides now being pushed for doing crown preps. I tried the SS White Great White and I thought they were terrible. It might be that they didn’t work as well as they were supposed to in my air turbine handpieces. They might do better in electric handpieces with greater torque. I have seen advertisements for Crown-Prepping carbide burs from Komet. Are these any better? What carbides are you using?

According to Komet, their new:

“Carbide Crown Prepping Instruments are superior to previous prepping instruments because they allow for precise and controlled tooth reduction while providing a finished surface comparable to that achieved by using a diamond finisher. Designed by Donald J. Alexander, DDS, of Jacksonville, Fla., the instruments provide quick, smooth, and chatter-free cut patterns. The residual finish allows for both gross and finish work to be accomplished using the same instrument.”

OralCDx BrushTest: Any Studies to Support Claims?

Dr. W asks:

I have recently been bombarded with marketing from various sources, including the ADA, about the BrushTest from OralCDx. In addition, I have started to see marketing for this Brush test on buses throughout the New York City area. I vaguely remember seeing similar advertisements for this test over five years ago. I’m wondering if the test from OralCDx has undergone any changes or is the BrushTest similar to what OralCDx was marketing years ago?

From what I can recall, there was scant evidence that the test actually was useful. Have there been any new studies to support the claims for the BrushTest from OralCDx? I find it strange that a test which supposedly can prevent cancer needs to be marketed so heavily. If it works and is useful you wouldn’t need to advertise it. For instance, you don’t see similar advertisements for other cancer preventing tests, like colonoscopy or pap smears, because those tests are actually proven to be effective and beneficial. So, does anybody actually use the OralCDx test in their practice? What are you thoughts? Thanks.

Editor’s Note:
According to OralCDx:

“The OralCDx BrushTest is an easy, painless and definitive way for dentists to test the common small white and red oral spots that most people have in their mouth at one time or another. The BrushTest is used to determine if a common oral spot contains abnormal cells (known as dysplasia) that, if left alone for several years, may develop into oral cancer. The test is in use by over 30,000 U.S. dentists.”

Thixotropic Impression Materials: What is the Advantage?

Dr. W. asks:

I keep seeing advertisements for thixotropic impression materials like SternVantage Quick Light Body. How are these used to your advantage when making an impression? I would think that not flowing very much would produce incomplete impressions where the material did not cover the finish lines of the prepared teeth. I have recently seen advertisements for a number of low viscosity impression materials that are thixotropic. I just don’t see any reason to use these. Am I missing something?

Endohandle: Will This Work Clinically?

Dr. R. asks:
. The handle was very comfortable to hold and it was easy to tighten the handle tip on the files. At least on the table top, these seemed to work very well. I think this should work well clinically. Are any of you using this system? Is it worth the investment? In teeth lime molars, does this system make it that much easier?

Editor’s Note:
According to Logan Dental the maker of the Endohandle:

“The endoHandle is a universal handle that can be attached to endodontic hand files- K-type or Hedstrom; broaches; finger pluggers; finger spreaders. The endoHandle improves the grip on small endodontic instruments. A “pen-grasp-grip” gives the clinician better access to difficult cases, more control and leverage, better visibility, and less fatigue in preparing the canal.”

F File: Plastic Endodontic Rotary Finishing File Advantage Over Ultrasonic Units?

Dr. A. asks:

I do a lot of endo in my general practice and I use a microscope and basically the same equipment that an endodontist uses. I recently saw an advertisement for a new type of finishing file made of a plastic polymer. This file is supposed to replace the need for finishing off with an ultrasonic file. It does not enlarge the canal. I would like to get rid of my ultrasonic unit because it is time consuming and expensive to maintain. But does it work? The advertisement did not have any references to the literature. Does anybody have any experience with this plastic finishing file?

Vibrajet: Reducing the Pain of Injection?

The pain of getting an injection is the most frequent complaint I hear from my patients. I have had plenty of injections myself over the years for dental work and they all – ALL – hurt. So I have walked in their shoes. I’ve seen advertisements for a vibrating dental syringe attachment, Vibrajet (Micromotors, USA), that could reduce the pain experienced by patients having intraoral injections for dental treatment. Does any know anything about the Vibrajet? I have not seen it recommended in any of my dental newsletters from management gurus, nor have I been able to find much research on it. Would be interested in any the opinion of those on this website. Thanks.

• Recent Posts

  • DDS GP: Patient Consultions on the iPad and iPhone
  • Griptab Veneer and Crown Delivery System
  • Scan2Guide: Easy to Use Software for Guided Implant Surgery
  • AlloSorb Allograft: Innovative Sterilization and Processing Method
  • 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?

Copyright © 2008DDSGadget.com