What's new

The dental directory with direction

The dental directory's new edition is available from 1 February. The catalogue is 528 pages long, full colour and features the latest in dental consumables, materials, sundries and equipment.

10,230 of the items included have been held or reduced in price since 1997. 3641 of these products have been reduced by an average 15.3%, while the remaining 6,589 have been frozen. This has been achieved through the company's PriceWatch initiative, which monitors prices to ensure the best possible price.

For a free catalogue, call freephone 0800 585 586

Reader response number: 052

A thrill to drill!

Osseocare, the drilling equipment from Nobel Biocare, has been granted Millennium Product status by the UK Design Council.

The drilling unit has been recognized for its versatility and is used by implant technicians around the world. The machine has a number of diagnostic functions to help indicate the patient's bone quality and so select the optional position for the implant. It also features a digital display and a memory card for data storage that adds both functionality and safety to the implant procedure.

All winners of the award will be displayed at the Spiral of Innovations in the Millennium Dome.

For more information please contact Nalini Bissoonauth on 01895 430 650 or fax: 01895 430 636.

Reader response number: 051

Dentistry 2000 reminder

With Dentistry 2000 only a matter of weeks away, anyone who hasn't pre-registered for the exhibition and conference should delay no longer.

Entry to the exhibition is free to all those involved in dentistry and there is a small fee to attend the conference sessions. If you would like to attend the exhibition only, call 0870 7511 420 or pre-register on the internet by visiting www.bdta.org.uk. For the conference sessions please contact Charlotte Long at the BDA for a copy of the full programme and booking form on 020 7935 0875 ext 286 or book on-line via www.bda-dentistry.org.uk/d2000/. All delegates attending conference sessions are automatically entitled to free entry to the exhibition.

By pre-registering you guarantee yourself fast-track entry and ensure that you receive your passes and free catalogue well in advance.

The exhibition will follow the same format as the BDTA's 18 monthly Dental Showcase, incorporating over 280 exhibitors from the UK and overseas.

The conference theme is 'New Solutions for the New Millennium' with sessions on 'Patients, Practices, Potential' plus a major programme of partner meetings organized by over 30 other dental groups - PCDs, educational bodies, oral health promotion groups and specialist societies.

Reader response number: 053

Help is at hand

Two new booklets have been published by the DDU - Useful Contacts and the Members' Handbook.

The Members' Handbook reminds dentists that as well as offering expert dento-legal and ethical advice, the DDU can also help with complaints, risk management, negligence claims and press attention. Useful Contacts aims to make it easier for dentists to ring, fax or e-mail for advice or assistance.

As well as assisting with complaints and claims, the DDU can provide a range of specialist services including:

  • Risk management advice

  • Access to DDU website

  • Help with good Samaritan acts

  • Dealing with media enquiries on your behalf.

For more details, contact Dawn Boyal on 020 7467 3107 or Emma Stafford on 020 7467 3139.

Reader response number: 054

Trade news

Aspire to the self-aspirating syringe

AstraZeneca self-aspirating cartridges (available for Citanest and Xylocaine)have been specially designed for use with the Astrazeneca self -aspirating syringe.

Aspiration is achieved by releasing the thumb pressure on the piston, which causing a negative pressure in the cartridge by the recoil of the specially modified bung. No grip change is required and needle tip movement is minimized.

For more details call 01923 266 191.

Reader response number: 057

Sharp sharps

The Hypo Needle by Dentsply is claimed to be one of the most effective needles on the market as it possesses a cured silicone coated needle and tri-bevel point. They are available in both plastic and metal hub formats, as well as all universal gauge sizes.

For more information please call Manja Klein on 01932 837 275.

Reader response number: 055

Remedy for the scaredy-cat!

More and more dentists are offering pain-free dentistry using air abrasion. Air abrasion technology is an alternative to a needle and drill for cavity restorations and is less invasive to the healthy structure of the tooth.

Dental Practice Systems offer the Crystal Mark Air Abrasion Unit which cuts effectively at 40 psi using less powder than other units. A fully autoclavable abrasion resistant mirror is included in the price.

Telephone 01438 820 550 for more details.

Reader response number: 056

Take comfort in Kulzer

Heraeus Kulzer anaesthetic needles have a triple beveled point ensuring smooth insertion and good penetration, while the needles' silicone coating prevents tissue congestion and reduces the turbulence which causes patient discomfort.

The needles also have a large inside diameter for reduced injection resistance, combined with flexibility and tensile strength for safe handling. They are made from surgical grade stainless steel using a high technology grinding and electro-plating process, and are available in a range of sizes

Packs and needle hubs are colour coded by size and each box bears a sterility indicator. Needle sterility is accomplished using cobalt 60 gamma irradiation sterilization which the company claims offers greater long term sterility than ethylene oxide sterilization technique.

Please call 01635 30500.

Reader response number: 058

Let it get on your nerves!

Intraligamentary anaesthesia uses the periodontal ligament to reach the nerve at the apex of the tooth. This technique requires high pressure and very thin needles but has the necessary effect of painless profound instant anaesthesia when delivered correctly with no long term swelling ('fat lip' syndrome), so is preferred by some patients.

Peripress by Panadent is a syringe that permits controlled-pressure injection into the periodontal membrane. It saves valuable surgery time and affords a minimum dosage of anaesthetic solution offering greater patient safety.

Call Panadent on 0207 403 1808.

Reader response number: 059

Take a deep breath

The McKesson MC1 R.A. inhalation sedation machine is available for either a mobile or a pipe-line system. It is fully CE marked and complies with the latest safety recommendations.

A range of scavenging inhalers is available for use with both central suction and MEC systems. Scented nose-pieces are available for use with certain models of inhaler.

Other accessories supplied include the MEC Purair 130 Scavenging System, the Nellcor NPB 190 Pulse Oximeter and the McKesson Portable Emergency Oxygen Kit.

For further information telephone 01246 276 111.

Reader response number: 060

Carisolv numbs the pain

The new version of Carisolv - a caries-softening gel - is now kept in a double syringe which enables the dentist to use only the gel that is need for each individual treatment. The gel emerges from the syringe ready for use and can be left with the other instruments during the day. The scraping instruments have also been developed, thereby enabling the cost of the start-up pack to be reduced.

According to Novadent, most of the patients who are aware that there is an alternative choose to be treated with Carisolv to reduce the use of the drill and anaesthesia. A current patient study, which is being conducted by Gunilla Blixt-Johansen, a private Swedish dentist, reveals that 90% of patients are afraid of or worried about caries treatment and that 95% of the people treated with Carisolv have said that they 'were not especially frightened' or 'not at all frightened' about the next caries treatment.

For further information contact Carin Lennartson on 0171 731 0187.

Reader response number: 061