New products

Take control

TriDent Plus is a new, improved version of MIAs TriDent practice management system for dentists. Tested extensively and developed, in-surgery by dentists, TriDent says that its new system puts dentists 'firmly in control' of their practice.

The system is flexible and. can be tailor-made For NHS, private, or mixed practice work. Dentists can control data, appointment book, recalls, DPB claims, billing, bad debts and all patient correspondence TriDent Plus has added some functional features — it will not allow a patient who regularly fails in attend to book another appointment unless, the user manually over-rides the system, for example As it operates on Windows ‘95, TriDent Plus is also easy to use.

MIA has a special offer for new customers — dentists who buy a TriDent Plus system within three months of a demonstration will get vouchers worth up to £1500 off MIA services.

Reader response number 051

Time out

Practices that use the TEAMWORK dental training programme will have to hurry to enter for the 1999 Sensodyne Teamwork Training Practice of the Year.

Sensodyne has advised that the deadline for application is February 28 1999.

Reader response number: 052

Cominox trade-in

Autoclaves from Cominox of Italy are now available in the UK. When a new Stericlave autoclave is purchased, Cominox will offer a trade-in of £300 against the price of non-vacuum models and £450 against vacuum models. The offer applies to front-loading benchtop autoclaves in working order and less than 10 years old.

Above: Jan Tinsley, director of Practice Plan, in a vintage model-T Ford motor car. She took the wheel when the Practice Plan car park played host to some 22 Model-Ts taking part in a rally

A full range of vacuum and non-vacuum models from 3-22 litre capacity is available and a printer option can be added. Cominox Stericlave autoclaves are CE marked and backed by a nationwide service team.

Reader response number: 053

It's a give away

Martin Gealer, from London (pictured above, left) already has a mountain bike and decided to give the prize to his nurse, Lucy Humphries (above, right)

A dentist has won the GC Grand Canyon mountain bike competition at the 1998 Dental Showcase and given his prize away!

Reader response number: 054

Speed control

The Bien-Air Micromotor has a new 'slow-speed conversion suitable for all techniques, offering total conttrol and reliability.

Features include speed selection from 60-40,000 rpm, high torque at all speeds and speed control to allow the use of 1:1 handpieces and reduction for endodontics. Compatible with most other manufacturers' handpieces and is available with optics. It is also retrofittable to existing surgery units and can be supplied with new equipment.

Bien-Air's range includes: optic and non-optic Bora turbines; the Black Perl ECO turbine; 1:1 speed-increasing and reduction contra-angle handpieces; air motors; oral surgery system and the 'Technobox' unit with motor

Reader response number: 055

Bupa beats the bug

BUPA has produces guidelines to help members prepare their practices for the year 2000. The guidelines offer advice on how to perform a full dental practice assesment. Sample letters and questionnaires for suppliers are also included.

A pilot audit of a six-surgery dental practice, to find out what equipment could be affected by the millennium bug was used as the basis for the guidelines. It revealed that some 35 items of equipment needed to be checked, of which 22 had a 'potentially critical' risk —BUPA says this result meant the vialbility of the practice was at risk.

Dentists can order a copy of the guidelines from BUPA DentalCover on 0800 235235.

Reader response number: 056

Advice leaflets for dry mouth sufferers

Sufferers of xerostomia (dry mouth) can now get help from Oral B in the form of a new patient leaflet.

The leaflet, Practical tips for coping with a dry mouth, has been written by xerostomia sufferer Wesley Finnigan, a consultant in palliative medicine, and dentist Pat- ricia Manson. Dr Finnigan developed xerostomia following treatment for cancer of the tonsil. He looked for ways to cope with the condition while out of the house, and suggests a slim plastic bottle with a straw attachment for discreet sips.

Oral B estimates there are as many 10 million xerostomia sufferers in the UK. Stress, anxiety and a variety of prescribed drugs are blamed for the condition. Symptoms can be painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Reader response number: 057

Oral hygiene springs to life

The Oral Spring Personal battery-operated electric toothbrush from Periproducts is designed to adapt to the contours of teeth to minimise the enamel abrasion caused by over-zealous toothbrushing.

The Oral Spring Personal is the UK's only spring-action electric toothbrush. A tiny spring is positioned under each tuft of bristles — Perioproducts says research from Boston University shows that abrasion levels are lower with spring-supported bristles. The Oral Spring Personal costs £16.99; spare heads cost £8.49 for three.

Reader response number: 058

Open Extra Wide

Dent-O-Care's range of Extra Wide flossing tape is lightly waxed and splays further when pulled against the tooth surface for maximum contact without shredding. It is available in a 25 metre pack (£7.95 for 10) and a 100 metre pack (£1.65 each).

Above: Aquafresh Flex Tip, a new addition to the Aquafresh Flex brand which uses an extra flexible zone at the tip for thorough, effective cleaning.

Other flossing products available include floss holders, threaders and a refillable automatic flosser with a unique design that allows fresh floss to be dispensed at a controlled tension.

These items and the complete range of oral hygiene products can be ordered through the new Dent-O-Care catalogue.

Reader response number: 059

Colgate's first-aid kit

Colgate Peroxyl is a new 'first-aid' oral rinse. It gives fast pain relief from ulcers, abrasion and sores, burns and scalds, soreness from appliances and cheek bites.

Low in alcohol, Colgate Peroxyl is gentle on sore mouths. It contains hydrogen peroxide in a pleasant tasting, pre-diluted rinse and cleanses and aids healing by releasing oxygen bubbles that flush out debris.

Reader response number: 061

Par for the course

Oral B is giving away a golf set to all customers ordering a gross of Advantage toothbrushes. The kit contains three Dunlop DDH golf balls, a set of tees and markers, a towel and a waterproof golf shoe bag (the kit has a retail value of £18). Dentists will also be able to enter a free prize draw to win a day's golf at the PGA Championship Golf Course at Puckrup Hall, Tewksebury.

Oral B Advantage is a multi-level filament toothbrush that offers significant benefits over traditional, flat-trim brushes. The power tip is shaped to clean posterior teeth and interdental areas — the longer, curved filament configuration of the Action Cup cleans along the gum line while shorter middle filaments conform to the tooth surface.

The handle can be printed with a message and telephone number, so practices can also use the brush for marketing.

Reader response number: 062

Finer things in life

Stafford Miller's finer 3mm interproximal brush has been designed to complement its 4mm brush and offer improved interdental cleaning.

The new brush, which is also suitable for periodontal pockets, bridgework and orthodontic appliances, has a flat handle for improved control when reaching into awkward spaces. The wire is plastic coated and the brush head, with its soft nylon filaments, is gentle on gums. The new brush is available in packs of five.

Reader response number: 063

Oral care market continues to grow

A report commissioned by SmithKline Beecham has valued the 'oral care' market at £476.6m. All sectors have grown since 1997: toothpaste (+5.8%), toothbrushes (+4.6%) and mouthwashes (+6.5%).

While toothpaste is an essential healthcare product, penetration (at only 84%) is still not complete. Family pastes are the largest segment (45.6%) of the toothpaste market, ahead of 'total care' (19.5%) and 'sensitive' products (11.4%). Whitening pastes are an important new segment of the toothpaste market, but at 4.3% an under-developed one with potential for growth.

The survey showed that average brush purchase per annum is just 1.38 brushes. Most purchases are in the medium/firm bristle category.

There is also marked growth in the mouthwash market (+6.5%), but penetration is still only 18% in the UK, compared with 70% in the US.

Business magazine tips Brushtox

Real Business magazine has nominated Brushtox as one of its 50 new 'products to watch'.

Brushtox, the first antiseptic for toothbrushes, was launched in 1997 and is now set to expand into the US market.

Effective against a wide range of pathogens, Brushtox was developed by Peter Neal, a Birmingham dental surgeon, and John Rippin from Birmingham Dental School. They showed that bacteria, viruses and fungal infections can be transferred to toothbrushes, where they can stay alive for days and re-infect the user.

Reader response number: 064