Take One fish tank

In order to demonstrate that the patented hydrophilic formula of their new Take One impression material really does work, Kerr had a dentist make an impression underwater. Whilst not being terribly scientific, the serious point is that Take One can, apparently, make a reliable impression even in the wettest of environments. Take One is available in regular and fast set formulations; uses a bimodal filler system which allows the material to stretch round undercuts without tearing or deformation; and is available in two types of tray material (regular and rigid), wash and medium/monophase.

Reader response number: 051

Banking on the future

The Bank of Ireland had a novel way to attract people to its stand at this year's Dentistry 2000 Show at the NEC, Birmingham. More than 1,000 visitors queued for up to 20 minutes to try their hand on a fairground fortune-telling machine. The reasoning behind the machine's presence was to promote the Bank's new initiative entitled 'Switch Banks & Switch Product', the substance of which is that customers transferring to BoI get free banking and practice Visa cards for 12 months, free electronic banking for 6 months and a 10% discount on selected items from Dentsply UK. The 'Switch Banks & Switch Product' package is available until the end of September and one can only speculate as to whether the fortune-telling machine plays any permanent role in the Bank of Ireland's business activities.

left to right, Chris Strevens, Samantha Day and Jay Patel on the Bank of Ireland's stand

Reader response number: 052

Educating tomorrow's patients

Whether we like it or not, many children pick up on the anxiety of their parents and other adults regarding visiting the dentist. This can cause the child to be anxious over visiting the dentist and reluctance to visit the dentist in later life can result from these bad childhood experiences. With the aim of combating this problem, and to prepare children for their first visit to the dentist, a number of manufacturers, including Advanced Healthcare Computing Ltd, have sponsored a new educational film. The film is called 'Judy Bear Goes To The Dentist' and, whilst being entertaining and reassuring, also includes the most up to date dental health education information. It was written by Jane Donnelly, a Theatre Sister, who has actual experience of dealing with children's fears.

Reader response number: 053

Slide and screw

Cendres & Métaux have released another addition to their Mini-SG System, the extracoronal Mini-SG Plus slide attachment. The slide attachment activates fixed/removable restorations progressively; the screw on the female part adjusts the denture retention force easily and in tiny increments. It is designed for low-maintenance as the bracing unit is integrated. Made from mouth-resistant plastic, which is easily replaced in a matter of seconds, two different sizes of friction inserts are available which permit the slide attachment to be adjusted for any oral condition. The Mini-SG system enables the restoration to be converted from screw-retained to screw-activated, retentive and/or friction-fit, without having to modify the fixed section of the restoration.

Reader response number: 054

BDTA on the move

The British Dental Trade Association has moved into new office buildings at Mineral Lane, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1NL. The new building will provide ample office space and excellent facilities for the Associations's many meetings. It will also be used as a centre for training courses and for the Introduction to Dentistry examination

Reader response number: 055

It must be gloves

The Dental Health Boutique (DHB) currently has a special offer on the well known Johnson & Johnson Microtouch glove and they also produce a monthly brochure, DHB Update, which details their special offers.

Reader response number: 055

Durr system hygiene

Durr Dental manufactures a range of hygiene products that are conveniently colour coded to identify each products application. The range includes products for special areas such as suction systems and amalgam separators. All of Durr's hygiene products are designed to be time saving and practical. All are scented and are mainly aldehyde-free.

Reader response number: 056

All gloved up

The Biotex Pro C is a non-sterile, powder-free, low allergy dental procedure glove from BM Polyco. They come in a dispenser box containing 25 hand specific pairs. The gloves have an anatomically curved shape which claims to enhance manual dexterity and reduce hand fatigue. Other gloves in the range include the Finex PF Latex which comes in both non-sterile and sterile presentations; Finite PF Nitrile non sterile and Finesse PF Soft-film vinyl non sterile. They come in colour-coded boxes to help dental staff select the most appropriate gloves for any task.

Reader response number: 057

Give Schottlander a hand

Schottlander produce a range of gloves for a variety of tasks. The low allergy examination gloves have had their shape and texture improved, it is claimed they are easier to don and the new skin-like texture means they have a better grip to make them more functional and comfortable. They conform to ISO 9002, are dermatologically tested, and have increased tear resistance. Schottlander's procedure gloves are all individually tested for holes and come in a range of nine sizes and in boxes of 25. For people who are allergic to natural rubber latex and residual chemicals, Shottlander has latex free Nitrile Gloves. Nitrile is a synthetic material which was specifically designed for people who are sensitive to natural rubber latex. After manufacturing the gloves go through a special cleaning process to minimize residual chemicals. All Schottlander gloves have a low protein count, are low in residual chemical and are powder free.

Reader response number: 058

Cleaner with KaVo

KaVo's high and slow speed handpieces are all autoclavable, having been coated with a stain resistant material to give extra protection when cleaning and autoclaving. The smooth, contoured surfaces have no gaps to harbour bacteria and make the instruments extremely easy to clean and lubricate prior to autoclaving. Cleaning and oiling the handpiece is also simple with KaVo's universal spray lubricant. The LN or CN systems come with optional glass optic, single light rod technology which provides increased visibility and durability. The systems use three types of shanks and twelve different heads.

Also available, the KaVo Protector 2000 Syringe which protects against needlestick injury during and after injection and during disposal of the needle, has been redesigned to offer greater security and improved handling. The Protector 2000 Anti-needlestick Aspirating Cartridge Syringe is claimed to be one hundred per cent certain to prevent the risk of injury from either end of the needle. This is important because tests show that up to seventy percent of the sharp injuries occur during disposal of the needle. In simple procedures the needle is fully isolated by a protective sleeve which slides over the body of the syringe. The improved design provides a better view of aspiration and has a more positive fit of both the adapter and protective sleeve.

Reader response number: 059

Don't make a bad impression

Kettenback have produced a useful product for those wishing to both comprehensively clean and disinfect a variety of impression materials. Silosept is a concentrated powder formulation which has a broad spectrum bactericidal and fungicidal regimen to inactivate HBV, HIV and TbB in just ten minutes, yet be completely bio-compatible. Silosept is compatible with silicon, polyether and alginate impression materials. The program also incorporates a disinfection tank, timer and a supply of labels to let members of the dental team know the impression materials status and avoid having to repeat disinfection.

Reader response number: 060

Masked not misted!

Face masks which are poorly designed and contoured can create more problems than they solve, particularly the misting of prortective glasses, spectacles or loupes. 3M Aspetex Face Masks are moulded and contoured for a close fit to prevent misting, with an elasticated strip for easy fitting and removal. They also claim to have excellent filtration efficiency and are, apparently, comfortable to wear.

Reader response number: 061

SMART for sharps

A SMART award has been given to a Suffolk company, Hydrodent Products Limited, to develop a novel method of cleaning dental sharps. Technical Director Stan Jennings (below, right) received the award from the Deputy Chairman of the East of England Development Agency, Neville Rayner.

Cross-infection in dental cleansing is seen to be of increasing concern to dentists and support staff in surgeries. When work related injuries occur in the dental practice, those that involve exposure of staff-to-patient material tend to cause considerable anxiety. The company is developing a new automatic cleaner, based on a novel fixed jet machine, using enzymes to avoid the need for manual cleaning. The manual cleaning of sharps has been identified as a relatively risky occupation for dental assistants. The machine works on a two-stage cycle; the preliminary cycle involves an enzyme, for which a delivery system is being developed, and then a high temperature wash which keeps the autoclave sterilisation cycle short.

Reader response number: 062

Safe wipes

Tekpro Safe Wipes are impregnated with a broad spectrum bactericide that is effective against enveloped viruses including HIV, Herpes Simplex Type I and II, Rotavirus WA, Influenza, Mumps, Rubella and Retrovirus, and bacterial species including Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas spp. The Tekpro Safe Wipes have been specifically designed with lower alchohol inclusion and are therefor gentle to ungloved hands yet provide safe, effective protection against cross-contamination wherever clinical cleanliness is essential. A novel feature is the built-in emollient which protects sensitive skin.

Reader response number: 063