Category Archives: dental equipment

dental equipment

How does the High-speed Dental Unit Works

Air driven high-speed dental units are driven by a dental air compressor. The entry-level models all have three handpieces. They all provide a water reservoir. Some will provide a spare airline yoke for a second slow-speed hand-piece or a sonic scaler.

Advantages

Very reliable and versatile, if properly maintained.
Allows the practice to grow into more sophisticated level of work, with appropriate training.
Leads to greater job satisfaction for operators.

Disadvantages

Relatively high initial cost compared to other equipment (circa ￡2,000).

High-speed Hand Piece

The high speed handpiece is capable of up to 400,000 rpm. It takes friction grip burs (FG) and has a water cooling facility for the bur. The water flow supplied to the hand piece can be varied or switched off completely.

The handpiece provides low torque, which causes the bur to stall if pressed too hard onto the tooth (over 1-2 ounces of pressure).

It is used for the drilling of access points into teeth, for high speed sectioning of teeth during extraction and cutting or re-modelling of bone.

The handpiece needs regular lubrication during the session and can be autoclaved.
Air/water Syringe

The air/water syringe has two buttons – one to control water flow and one to control airflow.

It allows a stream of water, air or a fine mist.
Slow Speed Handpiece

The slow speed handpiece has an air-driven motor in the base. It is capable of forward and reverse movement and speeds of up to 30,000 rpm.

The control on the collar controls the speed and direction of the bur.

The slow speed handpiece has a very high torque. It is difficult to stall and can overheat the pulp if used for more than a few seconds on one tooth.

It is very versatile and can accept long HP burs in the nose cone, polishing cups in a prophy angle and, with the contra-angle, right angle (RA) burs or any other type of latch tool. Other latch tools include polishing cups, sanding discs, root canal paste fillers and diamond discs.
Compressor

The size and type of air compressor you may require should be considered at the time of purchase. Reservoirs are available from 4 gallons to 12 gallons supplying between 6-8 cubic feet/min (CFM).

A small compressor has the advantage of being lightweight, quieter and cheaper. However, if asked to work beyond its capacity, it will overheat and cut out. It is often suggested that if the practice intends to perform restorative work it is best to have an oil-less compressor, to prevent oil droplets in the airline contaminating the restorative material.

Compressors are available with motors from 0.5 horsepower (Hp) to a unit with dual 1Hp motors for heavy use.

dental equipment

The Changes about Dental Air Polisher

Traditionally, a rubber cup and fluoridated prophy paste method has been used for plaque and stain removal. However, this technique has obvious limitations in areas of crowding, around orthodontic fixed appliance and of course, in areas of limited access such as under and around fixed multiple unit restorations.

Dental air polishers typically generate a stream of pressurized air, carrying specially graded particles of a mild soluble abrasive, such as sodium bicarbonate. The abrasive is directed, in the presence of a stream of water, at a tooth surface to be cleaned. The mixture of water and powderladed stream occurs on the tooth surface and forms a “slurry” that is responsible for the cleaning action.

In most currently available units, the water stream emits through a separate nozzle that may be concentric to that of the powderladen air stream nozzle. The resulting buildup of crystalline anhydrous sodium bicarbonate deposits in the lumen of the air/powder nozzle results in clogging. Several attempts have been made to overcome this, including the introduction of a ‘bleed air stream’ that flowed constantly through the air/powder nozzle and changes in the chemical composition or physical nature of the powder

More recent technology produces a slurry by introducing the water stream into the powder-laden air stream, within the spray head at a critical moment, to produce a fully homogeneous stream that is emitted from a single nozzle. This stream technology configuration has not only been shown to prevent nozzle clogging by preventing the buildup of deposits, but also results in a much more efficient cleaning action because the slurry is formed prior to emission. Air polishing devices were originally designed to be standalone tabletop units. They have been considered to be the equipment of choice for the hygiene department, sometimes being combined with ultrasonic scalers.

They offer a large powder chamber holding enough powder for multiple treatments, along with the convenience of a lightweight, fully autoclavable handpiece design. They are activated by a dedicated foot control that can select either a polishing or rinse mode and they require connections to water, air and electrical outlets. As such, they are normally allocated to a particular treatment room.

dental equipment

Some Tips about How to Choose Dental Equipment

With so many different models and manufacturers to choose from, you want to make sure you’re investing in something of quality that is best for your practice. While some products may do the same function, some perform and last better than others simply because of how they were made.

As good as a deal that company you don’t recognize or haven’t seen any reviews on may offer, do not buy from them unless you are sure the decision is right for you.

Choose a manufacturer who has an established reputation and has been in business for a number of years. These companies have the knowledge and experience to help recommend the best products. This also benefits you because they know exactly how each product functions and how it benefits the different dental practices.

When contemplating the change to digital dental in your practice, the choices can be confusing for the dentist. Dental radiography has evolved from film and chemical developers into a highly technical process that involves various types of dental x-ray machines, as well as powerful dental software programs to assist the dentist with image acquisition and diagnostic analysis of the acquired images. When making the decision to purchase x-ray equipment, the doctor needs to research the available options thoroughly, in order to make an informed choice for the “right” machine for his or her practice.

Although “top of the line” dental chairs may cost between $7,000 to $9,000, you may benefit more from buying a used dental chair instead. This is because many used and portable folding chair are made of more durable materials than many of the mass-produced products on the market now.

One of the best ways to make sure you are buying quality materials is to ask other professionals within your practice. This can come from directly contacting them or simply reading reviews from others in the industry. Make sure that the individuals you are getting advice from are also established and reputable, just as you would with choosing a manufacturer.

Those with years of experience will be able to tell you which products are best and which are not. In many cases, they have already used the product and have the best knowledge of whether it is a good investment and the pros and cons of the products.

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Knowing more Information about Sterilization in Dentistry

Today’s busy dental practices face a serious challenge: to maintain or increase productivity while ensuring that patient safety remains a top priority. At times, these may seem like incompatible goals. Advances in dental processing equipment, however, have empowered practices to develop safer processes while realizing efficiencies and ultimately, saving money.

Most dental offices have a designated area for instrument reprocessing that is separate from the dental treatment room. This is ideal, since cleaning, sterilizing and storing instruments in the same room where the delivery of patient care is provided increases the risk of cross-contamination. The removal and disposal of single-use sharps such as needles, blades, orthodontic wires and glass must be done at the point of use, typically in the dental treatment room.

A cleaning and sterilization by dental autoclave process that meets ADA and CDC guidelines is vital to an effective infection control program. Streamlining of this process requires an understanding of proper methods, materials, and devices. Many methods of instrument reprocessing are available. Use of a complete system that encompasses and fulfills all elements that are critical maximizes efficiency and minimizes risks. Closed cassette systems provide a more efficient and safer way to process, sterilize and organize instruments in a dental office – these eliminate manual steps during instrument reprocessing such as hand scrubbing and time-consuming sorting of instruments, thereby improving safety and increasing efficiency.

Using mechanical means of instrument cleaning rather than hand scrubbing should minimize handling of instruments. If procedures are used whereby hand scrubbing is necessary, heavy-duty (utility) gloves, mask, eyewear and gown should always be worn while cleaning. Minimize the risk of puncture injury by scrubbing only one instrument at a time while holding it low in the sink.

Use of a system utilizing locked cassettes eliminates the need to sort, handle and hand scrub individual instruments – reducing the risk of infection from contaminated instruments – and results in savings of, on average, five minutes during instrument reprocessing, as well as fewer damaged instruments, since the instruments are locked in position during reprocessing. As with any standardized procedure, a standardized instrument reprocessing protocol also results in easy staff training and cross-training.

In general, three classifications of mechanical cleaning devices are available for the dental office. They are the ultrasonic scaler, instrument washer and instrument washer/disinfector.

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The Effectiveness and Efficiency of Dental Air Polisher

Dental air polisher has been compared to scaling and rubber-cup polishing for efficiency and effectiveness of stain and plaque removal. The literature overwhelmingly supports the use of the air polisher as an efficient and effective means of removing extrinsic stain and plaque from tooth surfaces. Air polishing requires less time than traditional polishing methods and removes stain three times as fast as scaling with comers. In addition, less fatigue to the operator has been mentioned as an important benefit of air polishing.

Most investigators agree that intact enamel surfaces are not damaged when stain removal is accomplished with an air polisher. Even after exposure to enamel for the equivalent of a 15-year recall program, surfaces were not altered.

Still, researchers and manufacturers caution against prolonged use of the air polisher on cementum and dentin. When moderate to heavy stain is present on root surfaces, dental hygienists are often faced with the problem of removing it with the least alteration of cementum. One choice is to leave the stain and explain to the patient that stain is not associated with oral disease and will not harm the teeth or gingiva since it is only a cosmetic concern. To many patients, this is not a viable choice since appearance is considered so important in today’s society.

Other choices include removing the stain with a rubber cup polisher and prophylaxis paste; sonic, ultrasonic scalers; Dental Hand Instruments or the air polisher. Wilkins recommends removing as much stain as possible during root planing with curets. However, in one in-vitro study, air polishing was shown to remove less root structure than a curet in simulated three-month recalls for three years. Woodall agrees that the air polisher may be preferable to curets in this situation. Since less root structure is removed, decreased root-surface sensitivity also may be a benefit.

Clinical studies to evaluate soft tissue usually provide generalizable conclusions. Gingival bleeding and abrasion are the most common effects of air polishing. These effects are temporary; healing occurs quickly and effects are not clinically significant. No complications were seen with healing at extraction sites following air polishing of teeth prior to extraction. To avoid tissue trauma, the manufacturer recommends pointing the tip of the air polisher at the facial, lingual, or occlusal surfaces, thus avoiding the gingival margins.

Effects of air polishing on gold foil, gold castings, porcelain, amalgam, and glass ionomers have been studied. Air polishing of amalgam alloys and other metal restorations has produced a variety of effects, including matte finishes, surface roughness, morphological changes, and structural alterations. One study found no detrimental changes to the marginal integrity of amalgams. Surface roughness, staining, pitting, and loss of marginal integrity were seen on porcelain surfaces. One study reported only minimal changes in porcelain and gold alloys. Hand instrumentation at the gingival margins and caution were recommended when working around these restorations. The surface roughness of glass ionomers increased following either air polishing or rubber-cup polishing. Until research findings on air polishing’s effect on these restorative materials are unequivocal, clinicians should follow manufacturer recommendations to “avoid prolonged or excessive use on restorative dental materials.

dental equipment

The General Uses of Dental Air Polisher

Air polishing units typically generate a stream of pressurized air, carrying specially graded particles of a mild soluble abrasive, such as sodium bicarbonate. The abrasive is directed, in the presence of a stream of water, at a tooth surface to be cleaned. The mixture of water and powderladed stream occurs on the tooth surface and forms a “slurry” that is responsible for the cleaning action.

More recent technology produces a slurry by introducing the water stream into the powder-laden air stream, within the spray head at a critical moment, to produce a fully homogeneous stream that is emitted from a single nozzle. This stream technology configuration has not only been shown to prevent nozzle clogging by preventing the buildup of deposits, but also results in a much more efficient cleaning action because the slurry is formed prior to emission.

Air polishing devices were originally designed to be standalone tabletop units. They have been considered to be the equipment of choice for the hygiene department, sometimes being combined with ultrasonic scaler. They offer a large powder chamber holding enough powder for multiple treatments, along with the convenience of a lightweight, fully autoclavable handpiece design. They are activated by a dedicated foot control that can select either a polishing or rinse mode and they require connections to water, air and electrical outlets. As such, they are normally allocated to a particular treatment room.

Three safety concerns regarding use of the dental air polisher appear in the dental literature including that of the patient, the operator, and others in the treatment room. Patient concerns include systemic problems from absorption of the sodium bicarbonate polishing powder, respiratory difficulties from inhaling aerosols that contain oral microorganisms, stinging of the lips from the concentrated spray, and eye problems from the spray entering the patient’s eyes, especially if contact lenses are worn. Some of these problems could be addressed by coating a patient’s lips with a protective lubricant, using the appropriate technique, removing contact lenses, wearing safety glasses, and placing a protective drape over the patient’s nose and eyes.

Effects of air polishing on gold foil, gold castings, porcelain, amalgam, and glass ionomers have been studied. Air polishing of amalgam alloys and other metal restorations has produced a variety of effects, including matte finishes, surface roughness, morphological changes, and structural alterations. One study found no detrimental changes to the marginal integrity of amalgams. Surface roughness, staining, pitting, and loss of marginal integrity were seen on porcelain surfaces.

dental equipment

The Different Types of Dental Suction Unit

There are two main types of dental suctions unit that dentists use: the saliva ejector and the high volume suction. The saliva ejector does exactly what its name implies; it sucks saliva out of the mouth. This is the suction pictured at the upper right of this article. Many times dentists will have the patient close down on this suction so that it can suction away any remaining saliva in the patient’s mouth.

The other main type of dental suction that we use is the high volume suction. This suction is so strong that the dental assistant simply holds it close to where the dentist is working and it will suck away any nearby debris, much like a strong vacuum cleaner can suck away crumbs without actually touching them.

During some procedures, such as white fillings, it is important that the tooth stay clean and dry. The suction helps keep the tooth dry by sucking away any saliva, blood, and water that may have accumulated around the tooth. If the cavity went below the gum-line, then it’s pretty likely that the gums will bleed during the filling.

The drill that dentists use to do fillings sprays out a lot of water to keep the tooth cool and clean. Unfortunately, that water can quickly build up in the mouth and get on the dental mirror. In order to ensure that the dentist can see the tooth while working on it, it’s necessary to use the high volume suction to suck away all of that debris.

Those are the four main reasons that I came up with as to why dentists use the dental suction. In conclusion, let’s take a look at a question that I asked my dental hygienist as a child.

Keeping the patient comfortable is a high priority. In response to Jeanny’s question, we suction after giving anesthetic because the anesthetic has a bitter taste, and most patients prefer to rinse out with water and use the saliva ejector. Also, if the anesthetic sits in the back of your mouth for too long, it may start to slightly numb the back of your mouth and could give the patient a gagging sensation.

dental equipment

Using Polisher and Scaler to Do Dental Cleaning

Dental hygienists generally use several tools during a dental cleaning, including a tooth polisher and a dental scaler. Tooth polishers buff teeth and eliminate tiny pieces of plaque. They generally have several different sized heads for cleaning hard to reach places. Scalers look a bit like metal hooks and are used to remove hard plaque, especially between teeth. Some people find the use of a scaler uncomfortable, depending on their sensitivity level, pain threshold, the length of time since the last cleaning, and the extent of plaque build-up.

During periodontal surgery, dental air polisher can prepare root surfaces detoxify them effectively and efficiently, and leave a uniformly smooth root surface that is clean and free of diseased tissues. Dentinal tubules are then occluded, which may result in decreased sensitivity. Superior growth and vitality of human gingival fibroblasts was evident when ultrasonic scaling was followed by air polishing, compared to ultrasonic scaling alone. Air polishing produced root surfaces that were comparable to manually rootplaned surfaces, and provided better access to furcations. Tissue healing following air polishing was comparable to that achieved by hand instrumentation in root preparation during periodontal flap surgery.

Use of the air polisher for stain removal involves three steps: patient selection and preparation, clinician preparation, and the actual clinical technique. Air polishing should follow a careful review of the patient’s medical and dental history, and a thorough examination of the oral hard and soft tissues. Indications and contraindications, effects on hard tissues, restorations, safety, and alternative uses should be reviewed prior to treatment planning the use of the air polisher.

Preparation of the patient should include an explanation of the procedure, removal of contact lenses, an anti-microbial rinse, application of a lubricant to the lips, placement of safety glasses or a drape over the nose and eyes, and placement of a plastic or disposable drape over the patient’s clothing. Operators should use universal precautions, including protective apparel, a face shield or safety glasses with side shields, gloves, and a well-fitting mask with high-filtration capabilities.

Future research should continue to explore ways to increase the safety of air polishing, reduce aerosol production, and increase its efficacy in periodontal therapy. Future research should include in vivo studies that directly compare the effects of ?Dental Hand Instruments; air polishers; sonic, ultrasonic, and piezo scalers; and rubber cup polishers on all tooth surfaces. In addition, these studies should attempt to control the variables of quantity of stain, abrasiveness of polishing pastes, and amount of pressure applied to each surface.

dental equipment

What Do You Know about Dental Intraoral Camera

An intraoral camera is a camera which is designed to be used in the mouth for the purpose of taking video or still photography. These cameras are most commonly used in dental offices, although patients can also use them at home to monitor dental health or to satisfy curiosity about what the inside of the mouth looks like. Several firms specialize in producing intraoral cameras and accessories, and others make adapters which can be used with conventional cameras so that they can be used in the mouth.

Advantages of IntraOral Cameras:

Instant: you can instantly see what we see as we investigate your teeth, and also what we do when we work on them
Accurate: we can take a picture of the inside of your mouth for a bigger and better look, and it really helps to track any changes over time
Easy referrals or second opinions: if we need to get another opinion from a specialist, we can easily take a photo and email it to them
Memory jogger: we store these images on your dental record to compare back to later – a great way to really track erosion, staining
Better planning: together we can discuss the best treatment plan for you as we go – you then decide how to proceed
Learn more: it is a great educational tool to show you exactly what is going on in your mouth… rather than our dentists merely trying to describe it to you in words!

One of the primary uses for an intraoral camera is in patient education. Dentists often find it helpful to be able to show patients exactly what is going on inside their mouths, and to highlight areas where medical attention may be needed. Patients are also less likely to defer or refuse procedures when they can clearly see the area at issue, as some people are suspicious of recommendations for dental procedures, due to concerns about cost, potential pain, or the fears about members of the dental profession.

In addition to being used in patient education, such cameras can also be used to take clear visual records for patient files, and to generate material which can be used in consultations and discussions with other dental providers. For example, a general dentist might use an intraoral camera to take images of a tooth or area of the jaw which requires oral surgery so that a maxillofacial surgeon can examine the information before he or she meets the patient to get an idea of the kind of surgery which might be required.

Images taken by an intraoral camera can also be reviewed later, which can be useful for a dentist who feels a nagging suspicion that something is not quite right in the mouth of a patient. The intraoral camera can also be used to document procedures for legal and educational reasons, and to create projections of a patient’s mouth which can be used in medical schools for the purpose of educating future dentists about various issues which pertain to oral health.

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The Tips for Choosing Dental X-ray Machine

Finding the right technology for a practice requires research, investment and care. As more dental professionals implement digital intraoral radiography( intraoral camera ) into their practices, dental assistants should be sure to not only become educated on proper use, but also proper care.

When contemplating the change to digital dental in your practice, the choices can be confusing for the dentist. Dental radiography has evolved from film and chemical developers into a highly technical process that involves various types of digital x-ray machines, as well as powerful dental software programs to assist the dentist with image acquisition and diagnostic analysis of the acquired images.

When making the decision to purchase x-ray equipment, the doctor needs to research the available options thoroughly, in order to make an informed choice for the “right” machine for his or her practice.

While many patients see their dentist in-office, others require the dentist and equipment to go to them. Those who are incarcerated, home-bound, in nursing homes, working in underdeveloped locations or stationed on military bases are just some of the patients who may benefit from having access to a portable x-ray machine. Teeth problems could not only be painful but could also cause many health problems. Waiting to access an in-office machine may not be an option depending on the condition.

The orthodontist requires a way to obtain the size and form of craniofacial structures in the patient. For this reason, a cephalometric extension on the imaging x-ray device is necessary to acquire images that evaluate the five components of the face, the cranium and cranial base, the skeletal maxillae, the skeletal mandible, and maxillary dentition. The cephalometric attachment offers images such as frontal AP and lateral cephs.

The portable dental x-ray is not only useful to patients, but also to dentists who want to be able to help patients who don’t have immediate access to a dental office. Without the device, there is no doubt that quite a few individuals would go without knowing the cause of their tooth pain. Though it doesn’t mean they’ll seek immediate dental care, it at least increases the chances depending on the results of the x-rays.