Previously, DENTAL ADVISOR evaluated GingiCaine® Gel Syringes and it received an Editor’s Choice rating of 97% and is a Hygienist Favorite. On top of that, it is now available as GINGICaine Fusion by Gingi-Pak. It is a topical anesthetic available not only in a jar, but also in a single-use syringe. The syringe allows for direct placement of the gel into the gingival sulcus. GINGICaine contains 20% Benzocaine and is infused with 2% Hemp Extract, which reportedly helps to immediately reduce inflammation, relieve pain and irritation. The onset is 20 seconds with a 30-60 minute duration and it is available in two flavors: strawberry and vanilla.
Injecting directly into the sulcus
The whole team!
Initial Insights
Very quick onset but it subsided in a reasonable time; it didn’t last longer than needed.
The strawberry and vanilla flavors are very mild and not medicinal; the strawberry one is especially pleasant.
The syringe was very easy to use. It works great on patients with deeper pockets.
I like that it’s a gel because some other injectable products are too runny.
It’s neat that not only does it provide anesthesia, it is also anti-inflammatory due to the hemp extract.
Keep an eye out for this product in an upcoming issue of DENTAL ADVISOR!
Needles pose a great danger if their caps are dropped or go missing, and even recapping can lead to needlesticks. Orabloc Needlestick Safety System from Pierrel Pharma is a hands free, counter-top needle recapper created to combat this problem. The needle is simply pushed into the opening, which caps it with a brightly-colored capsule. The now-capped needle is withdrawn, and a spring inside the system pushes the opening to the next capsule. Once the needle is removed from the syringe, the opposing end can also be capped. There are 100 protective capsules in each system.
A funnel guides the needle right to the capsules
It works well with short needles, too
Initial Insights
The caps stay right on the needle so they don’t fall off or get lost.
There’s a plastic coating that keeps the needle from going all the way through.
The color-coding is really nice to let you know when you’re running low on capsules.
I would love to see a smaller size footprint!
Keep an eye out for this product in an upcoming issue of DENTAL ADVISOR!
Administering palatal anesthesia is a necessary evil that I always dread. As you can imagine, working in public health means I have done a lot of maxillary extractions. Knowing I have to give that palatal anesthesia always makes the sweat start beading before we even get started. I want to make my patients comfortable, but my arsenal of tips and tricks for making palatal anesthesia less painful has never been very extensive or effective.
At Dental Advisor, we recently received the Palatal Anesthesia Device (Master Dental Inc.). This instrument uses the principle of applying pressure to the area, that we have all done with a mirror handle, but makes it more effective. According to the manufacturer the Palatal Anesthesia Device uses the principles of pressure anesthesia and the “gate control theory of pain” to alleviate the pain associated with a palatal injection. The stimulation of the surface tactile receptors by the instrument “opens the gate” of the pain-transmitting fibers and interrupts their transmission to the brain. Therefore, the pain associated with the initial needle penetration is greatly reduced.
The “C” shape allows for targeted pressure right at the injection site
The targeted pressure blanches the injection site very effectively
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team and our editorial board? – Great idea! – Takes a proven method for pain reduction and makes it more efficient. – It takes very little pressure with this instrument to get the tissue to blanch. – Not just a good instrument to have on hand for an office that does a lot of palatal anesthesia but maybe even better for the offices that do it rarely and have not perfected a technique for pain reduction during palatal anesthesia. – We want to test this to see how effective it is… is it worth another instrument on my tray?
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 have to admit, I get way more excited than most general practitioners over extraction forceps. When I first went to dental school I had every intention of going into Oral Surgery. Before dental school I was the surgical assistant to an amazing oral surgeon at the VA Hospital and I absolutely loved it. During dental school, when I got assigned to the Los Angeles Christian Health Center’s Dental Clinic on Skid Row I could not have been any happier. Many of my classmates were scared of the possibility of being assigned to a clinic on Skid Row, but I was excited when I found out it was my assignment! As you can imagine, many days extractions there were a majority of my schedule… it was great! Life took me in a different direction and I did not go into oral surgery, but I still love all things surgical. When I was practicing, I would get more excited over an extraction in my schedule over a crown prep any day!
We recently received the Banditt Xtra Grip Forceps (A-Titan) here at the Dental Advisor. I was still a clinical consultant during the A-Titan Plus Series Forceps evaluation, and have to admit I loved them. I had my assistant order me a couple more sets after that evaluation and, in my public health clinic, my A-Titan forceps and I extracted a ton of teeth. According to the manufacturer these new forceps are maximally effective, minimally invasive, and the atraumatic Banditt Xtra Grip forceps reduce hard and soft tissue damage. Featuring a Diamond Nano composite coating, the unique properties of natural diamonds provide a high micro hardness and an abrasive wear resistance for up to 50 years. The corrosion resistant forceps are also non-reflective in your patients’ mouth. Biomechanical grooves have been added to the beaks to provide an unparalleled grip. Holes in handle reduces hand fatigue and provide a better tactile feel. Hand crafted in Germany, the forceps have a warranty that will span the lifetime of your practice.
Notice the serations on the 150 XG forcep
Nice fit in my female medium size hand
150 and 151 Banditt Xtra Grip forceps
Notice the long, thin beaks
The beak shape allows for a low, sub-gingival grip
Solid grip on a wet, extracted tooth
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team? – An improvement on an already great product. – The shape of the beaks definitely allows you to get low on the tooth and helps minimize breakage. – I have medium hands for a woman and these felt great in my hands. Not too heavy but solid, and well balanced. – I got a great grip on the extracted tooth. Even though it was wet, once I gripped it with the forceps it was in there solid. – I like the black, Diamond Nano composite coating, but I personally want to see how it holds up after repeat autoclaving. – Will the serrations may give you that extra grip, but could they also get in the way? We want to evaluate them to find out!!
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!
When I was a dental assistant at the VA hospital I assisted many periodontal residents. Watching the complex suturing of some of these incisions was always amazing to me. I always wanted to offer my doctor anything that would help make this part of the procedure easier for them if possible… just the right size suture with just the right size needle, and the delicate suture needle holders we had reserved just for these kinds of procedures.
Here at the Dental Advisor we recently received a pair of Featherlite Castroviejo Needle Holders (Laschal). According to the manufacturer these needle holders, with traditional locking mechanism and fine tips, will strongly grasp any size needle without splaying. They are lighter than titanium (weighing in at 0.8 oz.), yet will not break, loosen or rust and there is no joint to snag suture material during instrument ties.
Fealtherlite Castroviejo Needle Holders
Holding in open position
Holding in locked position
Comparison to a small pair of needle holders
Holding a tiny 1/2 circle needle on a 6-0 suture
Holding a large 3/8 semi-circle needle on a 3-0 suture
Locking mechanism
Locking and unlocking while suturing
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team? – Super light weight. – Ridiculously easy locking and unlocking… I want to use these for my oral surgery procedures! – Held both our large and small needles tightly. – We could see the gold part of the handles corroding after continuous autoclaving, we want to see it’s durability for ourselves ;-)
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!
I had the extreme privilege of being a dental assistant at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital for 4 years before going to dental school. While I was there I assisted perio surgeries pretty much weekly. Once the surgery is complete there is still the challenge of keeping the areas healthy now that they have been treated. Whatever habits got them to the point they needed surgery are probably still there and hard to break.
Here at the Dental Advisor, we recently received IORINSE® and IOGEL® (iotech international). These rinses are molecular iodine based. According to the manufacturer, because the iodine salts have been removed there is no issues with cross-allergies with shellfish, no issues of thyroid toxicity, no staining, and it has a pleasant flavor all while having a powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial activity. And… in case you are wondering, they all have flavoring and do not taste like iodine ;-)
There are 3 different formulations: – The IORINSE can be used as an oral-anticeptic pre-procedurally or as a mouthwash for patients to use 2x/day. – The IORINSE Concentrate can be mixed with water in a patient’s waterflossing device for targeted action. – The IOGEL can be used in trays
IOGEL with some dispensed in medicine cup
Super thick viscosity of IOGEL
IORINSE with flavoring bottle
Adding flavor to bottle once bottle is opened
Color of IORINSE
What were the Initial Insights of the Dental Advisor team? – Great concept! We really want to see the effects of this product in action! – Love that the iodine salts were removed, leaving the molecular iodine. – The gel is a very nice thick consistency. It will likely stay pretty well in the trays. – Have to admit that the mint-apple smell was not our favorite, but the cinnamon was nice. – They claim no staining… we want to see this for ourselves.
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!
