Pearls for Your Practice: Helioseal F Plus by Ivoclar
What would be the most boring product that I could write about for this column? Mouth mirrors? Amalgam? Keyboard infection control barriers? That might be the winner! How about sealant material? That certainly would be among the most boring things that I could write about; however, sealants are an integral part of a family and restorative practice. We should always be on the lookout for sealant materials that can make us more efficient and predictable with preventive dentistry. Helioseal F Plus is a material that can do just that!
I ran a report in my software that showed that I did over $97,000 worth of sealants and preventive resin restorations last year in my practice. I am a big believer in these types of restorations in both adolescents and adults with a moderate or high caries risk, so we do them a lot. Most of those sealants and preventive resin restorations were done with Helioseal F Plus. Helioseal F Plus is my material of choice for several reasons. First off, Helioseal F Plus goes where I want it to go with its precision dispensing. It has a very fine tip, so the hygienists and I are able to put it where we want it without overfilling. That saves us time and frustration!
In addition to easy and accurate placement, Helioseal F Plus is fluoride releasing, which is a must for good preventive caries control. It has very fine filler particles, which gives restorations placed with Helioseal F Plus a smoothly sealed surface that is great for reducing spots for cariogenic bacteria to hide. Helioseal F Plus cures quickly—in 10 seconds with most high-output curing lights. That is vitally important. Most of my sealants and preventive resin restorations are placed in pediatric patients. As we all know, we can’t guarantee isolation for very long in pediatric patients. Sometimes, I even feel the cuffs of my pants getting damp from all the saliva they can produce. Having a sealant material that cures fast is crucial.
Helioseal F Plus has become my go-to material for sealants and preventive resin restorations. It is obviously not a sexy topic. However, it can generate a ton of production for your practice and help out many patients. If you haven’t thought through your preventive dentistry protocols in a while, now may be the time, and Helioseal F Plus may be the answer. Base hit to right field for Helioseal F Plus!
Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD, is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry, where spent five years as a member of the faculty in the department of restorative dentistry following graduation. He is a Pearls for Your Practice columnist for Dental Economics, in which he offers a fresh approach to the critique of dental products and technology in a world of commercial-driven journalism. Dr. Austin uses every product that he writes about on patients in his dental practice, and then gives an honest evaluation for readers. He lectures nationally to study clubs and dental meetings on products, dental technology, online reputation management, and social media. He maintains a full-time restorative dentistry private practice in San Antonio, Texas. You may contact Dr. Austin at [email protected].
