A user-friendly apex locator

by Joseph Blaes, DDS

Pearl 1 — Bingo-1020 Wet/Dry Apex Locator from Dent Corp. Re-search and Development. If you have been guessing about where you are with an instrument during a root-canal procedure, then I have a product for you! There are numerous apex locators on the market, but I have not used one that is as user-friendly as the Bingo-1020.

This product has been engineered for precise apex localization during root-canal treatment. The microcomputer-controlled apex locator has precision measurements to 0.1 mm in either a wet or dry environment. Even when used by someone like me who hates to do root canals, the whole process is easier and faster.

Bingo-1020 is fully automatic; no manual calibrations or adjustments are required. The portable unit provides a large graphic LCD of the current position of the endodontic instrument in the canal. The "Root Wizard" provides this ongoing information as you proceed to instrument the canal. As you approach the apex, change to "Root Zoom" mode to show the last 1 mm of the root enlarged on the LCD screen. The display shows that last 1 mm divided into 0.1 mm increments and the instrument position in relation to the apex. The "Virtual Apex" predetermined point avoids over-instrumentation of the canal. The Bingo-1020 also will detect a perforation.

The portable unit features a rechargeable battery; audio feedback with volume control; an interactive, easy-to-use tutorial; an auto-off control; and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you do endodontics in your office, you need one of these!

Contact Dent Corp. at (800) 454-9244 or visit www.dentcorp.com.

Pearl 2 — BriteSmile Professional Teeth Whitening by BriteSmile. Professional tooth whitening is nothing new. From take-home to in-office laser treatments, there has never been a lack of options for patients who want to brighten their smiles. What dentists and patients have been missing is a whitening formula that delivers consistently good results quickly, safely, and easily. That formula is here with BriteSmile Associated Centers.

I have talked to a number of quality-oriented dentists who are pleased with their decision to become associated with the BriteSmile concept. Their patients are also pleased to have great results achieved quickly in the dental office without the mess and fuss of trays.

BriteSmile is revolutionizing teeth whitening with a new approach — an innovative, in-office procedure that allows dentists to whiten patients' teeth with an average shade change of more than eight. The proprietary delivery system works on all teeth at once, offering patients amazing results in just over an hour. And patients are experiencing very little sensitivity.

I have always said that one of the best, quickest ways to get involved in the "Aesthetic Revolution" is with bleaching. After bleaching, patients are much more interested in some of the other cosmetic procedures that are available. This has definitely been happening at the BriteSmile Associated Centers. Now that their teeth are white, patients are interested in new fillings, instant orthodontics, and a more enhanced smile. The sky's the limit.

This is a great system; investigate it before the opportunity is gone! BriteSmile is doing national advertising and will refer patients to your office for the procedure.

Call (800) BRITESMILE, or visit www.britesmile.com.

Pearl 3 — Illusion by Bisco Dental Products. Illusion is a universal aesthetic cementation system designed for placement of composite or porcelain veneers, inlays, onlays, and crowns. Just what we need — another resin cement for veneers! But there are some significant differences here that you may just want to take advantage of.

Most of you know that I am not an advocate of kits that have all the shades known to God and man. When I am seating a case with six or more veneers, I use a translucent or clear try-in paste to check the shade. If the shade is not acceptable to the patient or to me, the case goes back to the lab for adjustment. Illusion gives me another option to try.

I can remove the clear try-in paste and use the "milky white" to change the value and chroma of the restoration. This is a great addition to my armamentarium to get just the shade I want. The system has water-soluble try-in pastes that give dentists the option of making exact adjustments in the opacity and chroma for an optimal aesthetic result prior to final cementation. The syringes in this kit are easily differentiated by color — the try-in paste is in bright blue syringes, and the permanent cement is in black syringes. There is no danger of using the wrong syringe.

I have found the viscosity of the system to be very much to my liking. It is fairly thick and does not run, making cleanup easy. If you like your cement with less viscosity, the kit includes a viscosity modifier.

The kit also contains some other extras not normally found. In addition to One Step adhesive and Uni-Etch, the kit includes Porcelain Primer, Composite Primer, and Porcelain Etch (4 percent hydrofluoric acid). Illusion may be light- or dual-cured with the addition of a catalyst.

Call Bisco at (800) 247-3368, or visit www.bisco.com.

Pearl 4 — Hand-Specific, Fitted Nitrile Glove by SS White. This unique glove is hand-specific and latex-free, the only glove in the dental market to combine both features. Gloves are a necessary component of every dental procedure for the dentist, the clinical assistant, and the hygienist. With the advent of debilitating and often career-ending hand injuries and latex allergies, it is great to find a company that is concerned enough to find materials and methods to minimize hand pain and latex-sensitivity problems.

I have always preferred a hand-specific glove. I have found that there is less stress with this type of glove, especially for lengthy procedures. By building a fitted thumb into this design, SS White has enabled each hand to work and flex in unison with the glove and not against it. Nitrile can run up to a half size smaller than standard latex gloves, so take that into consideration when ordering.

Latex sensitivity and allergies can affect everyone in the office, not just people who come into direct contact with latex gloves. Each time gloves are used, airborne powder is released, which can act as a transfer agent for the proteins found in latex. When patients inform you of latex allergies, now you have a better solution than vinyl to protect them and your staff. Nitrile offers a strong barrier for aseptic control for latex-sensitive people.

For more information, call (877) 779-2877 or send an email to [email protected]. SS White will send samples to try, so you can get the correct size for you and your staff. Order from your dealer.

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]