Antimicrobials: The next generation

by Joseph Blaes, DDS

Pearl 1 — Arestin™ by OraPharma, Inc. The next generation of antimicrobials has hit the market, solving the problems that have plagued some of the early arrivals in this market. Arestin™ contains minocycline, a well-tested and reliable tetracycline derivative that is indicated as an adjunct to scaling and root-planing procedures for pocket-depth reduction in patients with adult periodontitis.

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The really interesting news is the way the product is packaged for very convenient treatment of pockets. Arestin™ is packed as a fine powder into a unique, single-use plastic injector that mates with a reusable syringe. You will find the system to be very user-friendly. Simply snap the injector into the syringe, remove the cover, put the injector tip into the pocket, and place Arestin™ exactly where you want it.

The antibiotic has been incorporated into a bioresorbable polymer that OraPharma calls microspheres. After you have easily placed the material into the pocket, the bioadhesive microspheres activate and adhere on contact with moisture. Arestin™ goes directly to the source of the problem area and stays there. No more dressing or adhesives are necessary to contain the antibiotic and keep it in the proper area. There is no slippage of the material and nothing to remove; the microspheres are completely bioresorbed.

In our office, we have the patient return about three to four weeks after root planing and scaling to reprobe and check for problem areas. We use Arestin™ in those areas that have not responded. Dentists and hygienists are able to treat these areas quickly. We have recorded periodontal pocket-depth shrinkage of up to 3 mm, with an average of 2 mm. In subsequent visits, areas that have not responded to this therapy can be retreated very easily if necessary.

I think you will be pleased with the simplicity of this delivery system and with the treatment results for your patients. To order, call OraPharma at (866) 273-7846.

Pearl 2 — ShadeVision™ by X-Rite. Most of your shade-communication problems can be solved with this new, easy-to-use product from X-Rite. I have always wondered why colors in paints and photographs can be measured by computer, but we dentists have always relied on the subjectivity of the human eye to determine tooth shade and color. Unfortunately, human vision is influenced by a range of factors, including lighting conditions, eye fatigue, and color blindness.

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As a result of these factors, present shade-matching techniques can be inaccurate and inconsistent. Everyone can be dissatisfied with the resulting color, because it does not adequately match the surrounding teeth. The color experts at X-Rite have taken the guesswork out of many industrial fields where color is critical.

The new ShadeVision™ System is a hand-held device that uses precision measurement technologies that respond to light in a similar manner to that of the human eye. The shade-matching instrument can accurately identify the shade of the tooth by measuring it in terms of hue, value, and chroma. X-Rite has the solution!

The ShadeVision™ System is cordless and hand-held. The exclusive X-Rite Windows®-based software is compatible with most dental software systems. ShadeVision™ delivers shade mapping that is repeatable and consistent. That means there is no more second-guessing by you, the assistant, or the lab. Equipped with their own ShadeVision™ System, lab technicians now can confirm the shade of restorations by comparing them to the original shade information sent by the dentists. This results in a better dental experience for today's cosmetic-minded patients and in fewer remakes for the dental laboratory. That translates into better efficiency and profitability in the dental office and the lab.

X-Rite is a highly respected company in the world of color. Thousands of X-Rite instruments are used all over the world as part of the Kodak Colorwatch® system. Major home centers and hardware chains use X-Rite's MatchRite® retail paint-matching system for custom color matching. This is a company you can trust to deliver and stand behind a quality product.

For more information, call toll-free (866) 617-4233 or visit www.shadevision.com. Order from your dealer.

Pearl 3 — Honigum® QuadFast™ from Zenith/DMG. This product is aimed at those of us who are in a hurry and hate to wait for an impression material to set. Honigum® QuadFast™ is a new, faster-setting version of the popular Honigum® impression material that has been specifically designed for quadrant and single-unit impressions.

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This is a great material, but please don't try to do a full arch of preps using Honigum® QuadFast™. It is meant for a couple of teeth in an arch with a quadrant tray or as a single-unit impression.

This product exhibits a remarkable pressure-sensitive variable viscosity. When dispensed, Honigum® QuadFast's™ high-viscosity material won't slump or run. But under increasing pressure, it lowers its viscosity to seek out small crevices and capture great detail. This product will provide dentists with more options in the Honigum® line.

Honigum® QuadFast™ is available in a heavy body, dispensed from a pouchless cartridge using the new "hands-free" MixStar machine. It also comes in a light body, which is dispensed from a hand-held automix dispensing gun.

For more details, call (800) 662-6383 or visit www.zenithdmg.com. To order, call your dealer.

Pearl 4Click here to enlarge imagePearl 4 — Proven Systems for Profitable Dental Hygiene by Dr. John A. Wilde. Allow Dr. John Wilde to guide you through a system that is extraordinarily profitable for dental practices. This system will put an end to the hygienist shortage immediately, and it will provide an enhanced working environment. At the same time, this system will provide superior quality of clinical care for every patient.If you are still providing hygiene services in your practice at a loss, you need this book! It can turn around your hygiene department and make it more profitable than you have ever dreamed. And not only that, but your hygienist will be referring patients to you for quality dentistry. Through an arrangement with GP Publications, this book is 100 percent tax-deductible, with profits being donated to a nonprofit cancer research foundation.

Order your copy today by calling (888) 522-6402. Thanks, John, for another great book!

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." Dr. Blaes is a member of the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration. He may be reached at [email protected]