The Italian job

The Dental Directory, exclusive UK agent for Omnia, has a large range of high quality, cost effective surgical disposables.

Omnia is an Italian company that supplies the Italian and French medical markets with 30% of their surgical disposables, including drapes, gowns, caps, overshoes and barrier products.

Different 'product portfolios' are available so that dentists can make up their own custom kits and save money. Ready-made kits are also available: the Assistant's Kit includes gown, cap, overshoes, face mask and two pairs of gloves in a double-wrapped sterile package (there are separate kits for the surgeon and patient.)

The Dental Set comes with the drapes, tube sleeves, adhesive tape and barrier film necessary for first stage implantology or oral surgery. There is also a 'complete' Surgical Kit for implantology/surg- ery and a range of disposable barrier products.

Reader response number: 056

General Medical has exclusive systems

General Medical is the exclusive UK distributor for Frialit-2 and IMZ TwinPlus dental implant systems.

The Frialit-2 system, which has been developed over a 20-year period, is designed for immediate or delayed implantation. It offers a range of four diameters from 3.8mm to 6.5mm; lengths from 8mm to 15mm. Restorative options are simplified by colour-coded components.

New components include Cerabase ceramic abutments and Aurobase cast-to abutments. The ProTect temporary abutment is for single-stage procedures and temporary loading. Bridge abutments, ball and socket and bar components complete the range.

IMZ Twin Plus is available in cylinder and screw forms. It features a patented Intramobile element designed to protect implants from early 'overload', especially in areas of poor bone quality.

General Medical provides a full range of surgical, restorative and laboratory courses and offers a wide range of accessories.

Reader response number: 057

Above: Primo Furniture now has a new range and chairs and sofas, designed for reception areas. From left: models P806A, V1 and P805T.

Complete system

Heraeus Kulzer designed the silicone impression material Provil to provide a complete modular system. The new assortment consists of five matched consistencies and two setting speeds to give the user more flexibility.

Provil Novo putty comes in soft or regular versions and is suitable for corrective wash impressions and sandwich/functional impressions. Provil Novo Monophase is particularly suitable for fixation impressions and is available in automix cartridges or tubes.

The materials have been designed to suit user requirements — with a fast-set version for individual crowns and other small prosthetic work and a regular set for more extensive restorations where more working time is needed.

Provil Novo system impressions also have good wetting properties without absorbing moisture, and impressions can be left in aqueous sterilising solutions for up to 30 minutes without any risk of dimensional change. Easy to pour, the technician is able to make smooth, bubble-free gypsum models.

The polymer systems used to make Provil Novo have been tested and proven not to cause irritation of mucous membranes or allergic reactions.

Reader response number: 059

Magnetic power

Magnadent is a simple, cost-effective implant-retained overdenture system from Osteo-Ti that requires minimal instrumentation and components.

The company says that while implant retained overdentures are often promoted as a cheaper and less technical alternative to the fixed prosthesis, the use of precision attachments increases costs and can make implant overdentures too expensive for many patients.

Magnadent was developed to overcome this problem. Durable high-powered corrosion-resistance magnets deliver 500g of retaining force. Magnets transmit low lateral force to the implants and retention does not diminish with wear, as can be the case with mechanical attachments.

A single surgical stage involves lifting a small flap and self-tapping the implant into position. The magnetisable implant abutment is screwed onto the implant and the gingival tissues sutured to it. The implant system is transmucosal, so a second surgical stage is avoided.

The denture is relined with tissue conditioner and worn immediately following implant placement. Three months later the minimagnet can be added directly to the denture at the chairside using cold cure acrylic, or by the laboratory.

As magnetic posts can be used with teeth it is possible to combine implants with existing teeth to increase retention and reduce costs.

Reader response number: 060

New implant system

Two dentists from the London Welbeck hospital have developed a new dental system, 'Juxtaendo'.

Antonio and Giancarlo Di Giulio developed the new system over 18 years' research in oral implantology. Juxtaendo uses a titanium dental implant that actually integrates with the jawbone. The inventors say this provides a 'virtually indestructible' implant for perfect new roots, and offers hope to patients who can not have an in-bone implant because there is not enough bone to screw into.

Juxtaendo is quick, painless to fit and can be tailored to suit the individual. Because it surrounds the bone and fills the cavities of old roots patients can even have it inserted immediately after tooth extraction. For further information contact Antonio or Giancarlo Di Giulio at London Welbeck Hospital (tel: 0171 224 2242).

Reader response number: 061

Less is more

The GE203C VAC from Trycare is only slightly larger than normal worktop autoclaves, but offers the same facilities usually found in hospital central sterilising units.

The 20 minute vacuum cycle (or 40 minute for textiles) allows wrapped instruments to be sterilised, emerge dry at the end of the cycle and then stored, still sterile, for up to 4 weeks. This cycle also achieves efficient sterilisation of hollow instruments, such as handpieces. The 7-minute flash cycle for unwrapped solid instruments enables a rapid turnover in less than half the time of normal steam sterilising procedures.

Reader response number: 062

Satalec quality

The X-Mind 70 kV intra-oral x-ray machine from the Satelec division of Daray Lighting is now provided with a two-year parts warranty. Both Daray and Satelec are certified to ISO 9001/EN46001.

Reader response number: 063