Suction tips just don’t always fit where you want them. Even those little surgical ones. Especially when you are just trying to keep that sulcular fluid or a bit of heme out of an area and you end up having to rinse it out into the big suction.
Recently we received the Transcodent Luer Lock Handpiece (Sulzer) here at the Dental Advisor. According to the manufacturer, this suction, when combined with the suction needles, is used for precise evacuation in difficult areas with maximal field of view. It can also be used for passive irrigation techniques such as root canal treatments. It is made of stainless steel, is autoclavable, and fits on the saliva ejector evacuation hose. It has four different size suction needles that thread onto the handpiece and are disposable.
Transcodent attached to small evacuation line
Transcodent in unit
Tips are bendable for maximum reach-ability
Transcodent being used for precise suctioning
Just the Transcodent Leur Lock Handpiece without a tip
With a suction needle
The four size suction needles
Transcodent with all four size suction needles
The diameters of all four suction needles
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team and our editorial board? – We love the option of 4 different diameter tips. – Looks like it could potentially be great for endo, but would all the sodium hypochlorite affect the lumen of the stainless steel handpiece? – This is one of those products that, as an assistant, I would want to keep in the top drawer of my mobile cart. It is one of those things you don’t need every day, but when when the situation is just right it could be a life saver to be able to whip out fast. – I originally thought that this could be great for perio surgery, but I wonder if even the largest diameter suction needle is not too small… tissue could clog the little tips pretty quickly but then again you could just grab another one. Any thought out there? (add a comment below) – Dr. Molinari, if you are out in California reading this what do you think about infection control of this product? I am thinking that with the right pipe cleaner you are golden. Would you agree? My sample did not come with a pipe cleaner but it would certainly be a must.
What do our Clinical Evaluators and their patients think about this product once it’s used in their offices? Look for a possible clinical evaluation in an upcoming issue!
Let’s be honest. Most of us do not use rubber dam as much as we probably should. It is the gold standard in isolation. However, when someone brings up using a rubber dam, most of us think of the challenges we have had with it over the years more than the benefits. One of those challenges is having it rip on you after it’s been punched and you stretch it out to put it over the teeth.
We recently received Polyisoprene Dental Dams(Hedy®) here at the Dental Advisor. What makes this product unique? According to the manufacturer this product is latex free; however, has similar physical characteristics to natural rubber, has excellent tear resistance, is powder free, and boasts an impressive 1230% elongation and 76N/mm tear strength. Available in sizes 5″ x 5″ and 6″ x 6″ in heavy and medium weights.
Polyisoprene Dental Dam placed on tear strength testing machine in Dental Advisor Biomaterials Lab
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team and our editorial board? – Although we did not do any official testing… when a product boasts 1230% elongation and 76 N/mm tear strength we cannot pass on putting it on the tear strength testing equipment in the Dental Advisor Biomaterials Lab. The results were rather impressive (images above).
What do our Clinical Evaluators and their patients think about this product once it’s used in their offices? Look for our clinical evaluation in an upcoming issue!
As a public health dentist, not unlike a general practioner, one always finds them-self trouble shooting. Nothing was ever what it seemed on the schedule. A “missing filling” was probably a sheered off entire buccal of a tooth, a “re-cement crown” probably had the tooth and/or core buildup in the crown, and even a restoration was likely caries so large I was sweating bullets the whole time because I knew the pulp was likely tenths of a millimeter away. I always had to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Because of this, I really liked having versatile products in my office.
We recently received Biodentine® (Septodont) bioactive dentin substitute. According to the manufacturers it has a high amount of calcium and hydroxide ions released upon setting, it has similar mechanical properties as dentin allowing bulk fill, and mechanical strength increases as the restoration sets.
This is a very versatile material. It can be used for adults and pediatric patients:
In the crown: temporary enamel restoration, permanent dentin restoration, deep or large carious lesions, deep cervical or radicular lesions, pulp capping, pulpotomy.
In the root: root and furcation perforations, internal/external resorptions, apexification, retrograde surgical filling.
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team and our editorial board? – Capsule mixing system rather than traditional powder liquid is much more convenient. – Interesting that you have to add the drops to the capsule yourself prior to triturating. – First mix was a little powdery still, but second mix was extremely creamy and very easy to place and manipulate. – Great option that you can replace enamel for up to 6 months if you are letting a tooth heal. – 10 to 12 minute set time. – Being able to bulk fill dentin replacement is a great benefit of this material.
What do our Clinical Evaluators and their patients think about this product once it’s used in their offices? Look for a possible clinical evaluation in an upcoming issue!
I doubt there are any endodontists out there that would disagree when I say that, when performing a root canal, proper canal irrigation/disinfection is essential for positive clinical outcomes. In response to this, new technologies are being developed to help improve canal disinfection. One such technology are irrigant activators.
We recently recieved EQ-S (Meta® Biomed). It is a cordless root canal irrigant activator that utilizes indentations along the tip and a sonic counter-clockwise motion to enhance irrigant flow. It has two speeds and comes with color-coded tips in three sizes: 15/02, 25/02, and 35/02. They claim EQ-S provides a powerful clean and better cleaning and disinfection of canals thanks to their active flow polymer tip that provides: less pressure to the apical foramen, easier access to curved canals, and perfect interaction with irrigant.
EQ-S activated
EQ-S with 25/02 tip
Trying EQ-S 35/02 tip into canal
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team? – Wow, talk about light weight! – The tip really has a lot of power. – The settings are switched using the on/off button, so sometimes rather than changing settings when pushing the button it would just turn off. – Head design is nice and sleek.
What do our Clinical Evaluators and their patients think about this product once it’s used in their offices? Look for a possible clinical evaluation in an upcoming issue!
There is a lot of debate about pulpotomy medicaments. As clinicians we understand the value of maintaining primary teeth as space holders for permanent teeth, but we also don’t want to expose patients to harsh chemicals if we can avoid it. Fortunately, new materials are being introduced to help with this very issue.
Recently we received TheraCal PT™ (Bisco). As a public health dentist, I am excited about this product. It is a biocompatible, dual-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate designed for pulpotomy treatment, direct and indirect pulp capping, and as a base material. The material maintains tooth vitality by performing as a barrier and protectant of the dental pulpal complex. It is also radiopaque and calcium releasing.
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team and our editorial board? – It is very easy to express. – The size of the dual-barrel syringe may make it difficult to see where you are placing the material in certain areas. – We were surprised how nice and firm the material sets to. It gives a nice firm base for placing restorative materials onto.
What do our Clinical Evaluators and their patients think about this product once it’s used in their offices? Look for our clinical evaluation in an upcoming issue!
