Facing face-ache

The British Brain and Spine Foundation has launched a new booklet to offer guidance on facial pain for people affected by this condition. The booklet provides information on treatments and includes a section on organisations providing support for people with facial pain.

Written by leading medical experts and assessed by a panel of patients and carers, the booklet aims to increase awareness and understanding about the condition.

The British Brain and Spine Foundation's booklet 'Face pain' can be obtained by sending a cheque/postal order for £4 per copy (inc. p&p) made payable to British Brain and Spine Foundation to: British Brain and Spine Foundation, FREEPOST, London, SW9 6BR.

Reader response number: 051

Ta-ta to tooth stains

Ceuta Healthcare Ltd announce the re-launch of Eludril mouthwash which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Containing chlorohexidine (0/1%) and chlorobutanol, it does not produce tooth staining but, so Ceuta Healthcare claim, remains effective in reducing bacterial loading and gingivitis with or without the additional usage of brushing.

Eludril mouthwash requires dilution and can also be used pre, during and post oral surgery and is claimed to remain effective for up to 8 hours after usage.

Reader response number: 053

Crawling all over the web

Patient UK has just re-launched www.patient.co.uk, a web site aimed at providing a wide range of health information to the general public. The website is now searchable and fully cross- referenced.

www.patient.co.uk is edited by GP's and provides fast, easy to access information on diseases, illnesses, self-help and support groups, health promotion, dental advice, eye care, medication, NHS information, carers' information, links to professional associations and more.

Dr Tim Kenny of Patient UK says that the aim of www. patient.co.uk is to provide users with a comprehensive resource of health information from reputable UK sources.

The site is becoming increasingly popular and is already gaining a reputation amongst health professionals as a useful additional resource. The web site was reacently featured in the British Medical Journal as a valuable source of consumer health information.

Reader response number: 054

Pssst!! It's PST!

Dumex Oral Healthcare has acquired the rights to market and distribute a revolutionary new genetic test. The Periodontal Susceptibility Test (PST) has been designed to identify those patients who may be genetically susceptible to periodontitis.

Launched in September, this test is an exciting step forward in dentistry, since it has been suspected for years that periodontal disease can be influenced by an individual's genetic make-up. By testing a patient's DNA, PST can identify patients who are at an increased risk for periodontal disease before future problems develop.

For further information on PST call 0800 622273.

Reader response number: 055

Are your dentures sitting comfortably?

Kemdent is pleased to announce the addition of a new product, Comfydent, a new silicone reline material, which is set to rid patients of uncomfortable dentures in a matter of minutes. Because of the twin cartridge dispensing system, Comfydent is exceptionally quick, clean and easy to use. The need for mixing is eliminated - the cartridge does it for you-and the improved tip design reduces waste, ensuring that perfect fresh material is available every time you need it.

Reader response number: 052

Pure not polluted

The Filtaire range of air purifiers has been developed to cope with most residual pollutants which are experienced in the medical environment.

Patent Filtration Ltd claim that the appliances which can be free standing or permanently fixed are unique in the way they control pollution. Bonded filter media is rotated at high speed attracting particulates and trapping them within the material.

The air is then cast against a static filter which will combat odour and chemical smells.

Also, the static filter can be tailored to the specific needs of an affected area.

Reader response number: 056

User-friendly units

The Compo range from Anthos comprises a series of extremely functional items. Pressed steel drawers slide along dustproof Teflon-coated bearings that have passed the 40,000 openings test. Full length, rounded ergonomic handles allow for thorough cleaning. The side panels are easily removed wherever it is necessary to position the cabinet next to other units, and the worktop is scratchproof, antiglare, flameproof, water repellent and acid resistant.

UK Managing Director, John Clark, is confident that dentists will be impressed by the quality, durability and price of Anthos cabinets.

Reader response number: 058

Shy away from shrinkage

The PolyLux 2 light from KaVo emits light at a wavelength of between 400-500mm, significantly reducing shrinkage of light cured restorations.

The PolyLux 2 also has a stepped output which controls the curing stages, this prevents the 'shock' hardening which could result in shrinkage. It also has three performance programmes to meet the individual curing requirements of different materials.

The instrument's handle incorporates a display of the pre-programmed timing and performance data. The timing values can be programmed at 15, 20, 40 and 60 second intervals.

The KaVo PolyLux 2 is fully autoclavable and the glass rod is easily removable for cleaning and sterilisation.

Reader response number: 059

Good things come in small packages!

The DentalMan product line consists of a combination of two applications, the DentalMan Cordless Equipment - a range of battery driven prophylactic instruments, and the DentalMan Compact Unit - a multi-feature dental unit at the cutting edge of development in comparison to existing products.

The DentalMan product line is, the company claim, the world's smallest dental equipment, operated by rechargeable batteries. It can be powered either by mains power, solar energy or by a car lighter plug.

The system's modular design requires little service or maintenance. In the event that a module needs to be replaced, the DentalMan service concept ensures that new components or replacement parts can be delivered by courier service - anywhere in the world.

For further information, telephone: +45 70 20 00 96, visit the website www.dentalman.com or e-mail info@dentalman.com.

Reader response number: 060

Room with a view

Dürr Dental has moved offices into purpose built premises that will allow the opportunity to view its leading dental systems and materials at first hand.

The company's business area covers all aspects of practice and laboratory life including compressors, suction and x-ray systems, as well as digital imaging equipment.

To find out more, call 01933 671 990, visit the website http://www.duerr.ukore-mailinfo@duerr.uk.

Reader response number: 057

Record breakers!

An Orthopantomograph OP100 unit from Instrumentarium Imaging was recently reported to have completed over 100,000 patient exposures. The standard panoramic unit with original X-ray tubes was operated under warm weather conditions. This record was achieved in just two and a half years of clinical operation.

The unit was installed in Sao Paulo, Brazil in October 1996. Between 150 and 200 panoramic, cephalometric and tomography exposures have been made daily.

Just before going to press, the unit had passed through 115,000 exposures, and is still using its original X-ray tube. The company reports to have an X-ray tubehead failure rate of less than 0.5%.

The basic model features panoramic and TMJ imaging programs, computer-controlled operation, Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) and with operation selectable on either the left or the right side.

Also, the unit is fully upgradeable on-site for cephalometric imaging, linear tomography, daylight film marking, digital imaging and also 3-D digital imaging.

Reader response number: 061

Service Line

Despite recommendations from the Department of Health, it appears that many autoclaves are not being calibrated as frequently as they should.

The Health Technical Memorandum 2010 stipulates that an autoclave must be thermally calibrated four times a year to ensure that it is sterilising instruments adequately.

Prestige Medical have a team of engineers expertly trained and dedicated to servicing and repairing their autoclaves called 'Service Line'. Service Line offer a national coverage service for all Prestige Medical products. As well as calibration of autoclaves, Service Line also offer a wide range of other services such as breakdown assistance, loan machines, and full service contracts.

Reader response number: 062