what's new

New MD at KaVo

Richard Whately has been appointed new managing director of KaVo UK. Richard (pictured, below) brings many years dental experience to his new position; joining KaVo in 1994 after working for Dentsply in a variety of capacities for 10 years.

Reader response number 051

ASAP from DMDS

DMDS have launched the new ASAP composite resin. Designed for use with the Apollo 95E plasma light, ASAP Composite claims to cure in half the time of other composite materials. Even with a conventional light source the composite cures in just 20 seconds. The faster curing times mean less discomfort for the patients and less hand fatigue for the dental health professional. An introductory kit is available.

Reader response number 052

Denplan makes a splash...

Denplan entered a new era this month when they launched a television advertisement promoting dental capitation plans.

In the advertisement a perfect apple in the shape of Denplan's logo falls out of the sky, hits the water and freezes into the Denplan logo. 'Although other dentally related adverts have already appeared on TV, Denplan's advert will actually promote dentists and dentistry', says dental marketing manager Kevin Mann.

The TV campaign began in the West country TV area on 6th September and may be extended to other regions.

Reader response number 055

Schick put Britain in the picture

Above: Clark Dental, UK distributors for Schick (America's best selling digital radiography system), is planning a major drive to promote its benefits to British dentists.

The Schick CDR system replaces outmoded CCD imaging with the Active Pixel Sensor, allowing dentists to diagnose with 25% more resolution than other sensors.

Reader response number 053

Whiter than white

DMDS have also announced that their Apollo 95E 'power bleaching' system and Apollo Secret whitening gel have been accredited with CE approval. The gel's three component system consists of a stabiliser, a whitening powder and the dentist' s own supply of hydrogen peroxide.

The product is consistent with legislation for cosmetic products and dentists can be sure of the quality of the hydrogen peroxide used. DMDS are giving away four packets of Apollo Secret Gel with each Apollo 95E unit ordered.

Reader response number 054

Cleared for take-off

SmithKline Beecham have joined forces with the airline Virgin Express to offer free flights to consumers who collect tokens from Macleans products.

Consumers must collect six colour coded tokens from three selected products: Total Clean 100 ml toothpaste, Macleans' 500 ml mouthwash and Macleans' The Toothbrush.

The free tickets available are only for Brussels, flying from either Gatwick or Stansted. However, there is an option to fly on to Copenhagen, Rome, Madrid, Nice, Milan or Barcelona on payment of a supplement.

Reader response number 056

Trade news

E-Z as easy as ABC

Austenal have introduced E-Z Fill Cement with stainless steel or nickel titanium spirals.

Austenal claim the E-Z Fill procedure is the simplest and most thorough obturation system for filling straight and minimally curved canals using standard reamers and files of greater taper.

The E-Z Fill spiral is a patented bi-directional design which produces a coronal and apical flow simultaneously. When the opposite flows meet, the resulting lateral spread thoroughly coats the root canal walls and lateral canals.

Reader response number: 056

Worth a schott...

Schottlander produce a wide range of endodontic products. Instruments include rotary paste fillers, Type 'G' rat tail files, barbed broaches, hand and engine instruments, Gates Glidden reamers and Endic finger pluggers and spreaders.

The hand instruments are ISO colour coded and contoured to fit the fingers for greater comfort and ease of use. They are supplied with rubber stops and colour coded for length.

The engine instruments have metal handles which retain their shape after sterilisation. The metal handles of the rotary paste fillers are colour coded, incorporating a spring end to reduce the risk of fracture if the paste filler catches in the canal.

Reader response number: 057

The Flex-Files are out there...

The endodontic programme from Panadent focuses on instrumentation, rapid x-ray analysis, cleaning and filling and instrument storage, cleaning and disinfection.

The Thomas Endodontic series provides a comprehensive stainless steel file and reamer programme to encompass hand and engine instruments in all variants, including a new range of Superflex H files (pictured) and Canal Finders.

Rapid x-ray analysis is available with RXF 30 and RXD 30, providing quality film images in just 30 seconds.

Reader response number: 058

Safety first

Panadent's safety stop instruments have a specially designed handle which has an adjustable safety stop to set operating limits of the root canal instrument into the canal.

The safety stop resists to a load of more than one kilogram and retracts into the handle when not in use.

Safety stop instruments are made from high grade stainless steel with high resistance and flexibility. The size, taper and colour coding are in accordance with ISO specifications.

The instruments are available in packs of six individual or assorted sizes.

Reader response number: 059

Hu-Friedly user friendly

Hu-Friedly have developed a group of new instruments to assist the endodontist in accessing difficult areas during microsurgical procedures.

The instruments are hand-crafted from Hu-Friedy's exclusive immunity steel and the initial range includes microsurgical mirrors, an endodontic explorer and condensers.

The microsurgical explorer is a double ended instrument used to initiate the tracking groove in the root tip prior to the use of an ultrasonic retroprep tip to open up the canal. The MAR-EX1 double ended explorer is pictured.

The microsurgical mirrors are available in five sizes. There are nine microsurgical condensers/ burnishers available in universal, right or left patterns, each offering small, medium or large condenser ends, with a small ball burnisher.

Reader response number: 060

Good results are in the Post

A Post and Core is often the restorative method of choice following endodontic treatment.

Flexi-post is a unique split shank threaded post system which gives minimal stress and maximum retention while enhancing stability. When Flexi-post is inserted, its split shank adapts to the canal, absorbing stress by gradually closing. High retention is achieved by the specially designed deep, sharp threads along the full length of the post.

Austenal claims the benefits of the system have been documented over years of research.

The Flexi-post intro kit contains 12 posts (four each of sizes 0, 1, 2) plus all necessary reamers.

The recommended core material for use with Flexi-post is Ti-Core, which can be mixed and placed easily and provides a stable, long-lasting restoration. Self-curing, it has a four minute set-time and cuts just like natural dentine.

For a limited period, Austenal are offering the Flexi-Post intro kit and Ti-Core grey or natural at a reduced price of £160.00 + VAT when purchased together. The offer closes on 30 November 1999.

Reader response number: 061

Go with the flow

Shofu Dental have recognised that despite the benefits of fluoride release and excellent handling characteristics, conventional glass ionomer cements present certain disadvantages.

The acid-base reaction starts immediately when the powder and liquid come into contact which results in a high initial viscosity, causing difficulty in mixing and a short working time.

Shofu have therefore developed CX-Plus with a unique silicone oxide layer coating (SLC), The SLC technique involves coating the surface of the glass particles with a very thin layer of silicone oxide which prevents the immediate penetration of liquid to powder, thus controlling the timing of the acid-base reaction. This results in improved mixing quality, extended working time and a more flowable cement mixture.

Once the powder and liquid come into contact a 'snap set' takes place which reduces the risk of moisture contamination.

Reader response number: 062

Spiralling forward

NiTi-S-Files have a double-edged converging spiral that improves cutting and debris removal and precludes clogging.

Being made of nickel titanium, the S-Files are more flexible, resilient and sharper than stainless steel instruments.

Ni-Ti-S-Files are available for hand or engine use and suitable for conventional or crown down techniques. The hand use instrument has an ergonomic moulded thermoplastic handle that can withstand temperatures up to 180 degrees Celsius.

Reader response number: 063