Tag Archives: Dental

Dental Compressor

Different Types of Dental Compressor Filter

Dental air compressors are devices that draw atmospheric air into a compression head where it is pressurized and stored in a tank or reservoir for later use. Common uses of the compressed air include driving pneumatic tools, spray painting, or sand blasting. Unfortunately, compressors draw all contaminants present in the air into the system as well. An accumulation of condensation is also an unavoidable by-product of the air compression cycle. Lubricating oil from the compressor head also finds its way into the stored air and, along with dust and moisture, can play havoc with sensitive tools, hoses, or sprayed paint.

Compressor filters are devices used on air compressors to filter dirt particles from the intake air supply, to remove contaminants from the compressor lubricating oil, and to trap moisture in the compressed output air flow. Intake air and oil filters generally feature cassette-type inserts made of cellulose, felted material or woven fabrics. Water filters generally consist of a glass bowl and filter element that separate condensate from the compressed air. The bowls have a drain cock on the bottom to periodically remove all of the trapped water. Compressors of all types benefit significantly from the inclusion of all compressor filter types, and, consequently, a regular inspection of these elements will ensure the longevity of the compressor and the integrity of the compressed air supply.

The most effective way of removing a significant volume of these contaminants is the use of a compressor filter. These devices fall into three basic categories that address all of the common contaminant issues experienced with compressed air systems. The first of these categories are the family of intake air filters. Typically consisting of a cassette type insert in a closed cylinder, these devices are placed in the compressor’s intake air line, where they remove most airborne dust particles. These filter elements are generally made of woven fabrics, cellulose fiber, or felted materials.

The second type of compressor filter is the moisture filter or trap. These filters consist of a filter element in a glass bowl. The structure of the filter causes a cyclonic internal flow pattern, which separates most of the condensate from the compressor’s output air. The water collects in the bowl where it is later drained using a small valve on its bottom section. Combination compressor filter models that remove leached lubrication oil and water are also available.

The last type of compressor filter is a standard oil filter that ensures the compressor’s lubrication oil is kept free of contaminants. These are also cassette-type filters that have specialized core elements similar to an automobile oil filter. The longevity of the compressor mechanism, hoses, and all of the equipment that it drives, as well as the quality of spray paint jobs completed with compressed air, can be enhanced considerably by having these filters in place. For this reason, these filters should be inspected regularly and replaced immediately if worn or defective.

Dental Curing Light

The Recent Information about Dental Curing Light

Today, almost all resin composites, dental adhesives and adhesive cements utilize light energy for complete polymerization, which further determines the long-term clinical success of a procedure. While much attention has been given to the details of diagnosis, preparation and the development of improved adhesives and resins, light curing is often taken for granted.

Using a curing light accomplishes two things. In the first place, it makes sure that the resin cures properly and adheres evenly. When applying fillings, this is critical to keep the filling in place in the mouth. For sealants, the curing light limits the risk of cracks and other problems with the sealant. With adhesives for implants and braces, the rapid, even cure is also designed to limit problems in the future.

The dental curing light also increases patient comfort by rapidly curing resins so that the patient is not forced to sit in discomfort while the resin sets. Since the mouth usually needs to be held open wide and may be dry for the procedure, patients usually want the procedure to end as quickly as possible so that they can close their mouths and remoisturize the dried oral membranes. Using a curing light gets patients in and out of the chair quickly so that the experience of irritation and pain is limited.

There have been significant improvements in the curing light technology in recent years. Today, dental manufacturers can develops variety of curing lights, from plasma arc to argon laser curing lights. That said, two curing lights commonly used in the dental operatory are Quartz Tungsten Halogen (QTH) lights and Light-emitting diode (LED) lights.

Quartz Tungsten Halogen (QTH) lights. These lights have a quartz bulb with a tungsten filament that irradiate both UV and white light, which must be filtered to remove heat and all wavelengths except those in the violet-blue range. The lights have broad emission spectrum of approximately 390 nm to 500 nm, which is capable of curing all composites.

Curing lights vary according to their features; power intensities and energy delivered to the tooth; timing for use; availability of accessories; configuration of curing probes/tips available for a device; and price. The ideal light-curing unit features a broad-emission spectrum, sufficient light intensity, minimal drop off of energy with distance (collimated beam), a large emission window of light probe, ease of use and easy maintenance.

Dental Compressor

The Economics of Owning a Compressed Air System

Compressed air systems form the backbone of industrial manufacturing, are an essential component of medical facilities and are even responsible for keeping commercial food services running. Needless to say, many of the things that Americans have come to take for granted are only possible with the assistance of compressed air.

Compressed air systems provide consistent, responsive power to end-use applications. This power is essential for production plant operations who are looking to keep their employees productive while ensuring that they can complete operations safely and efficiently.

In many ways, the question of whether to replace or repair a compressed air system can be expressed as a mathematical problem. In other words, at which point does the money saved from a new system offset the cost of its purchase?

Luckily, many people have crunched the numbers on this question and have provided a nice basic framework for deciding which approach makes the most sense for your business.

According to PneumaticTips, it’s important to remember that, if you consider the overall cost of ownership of a compressed air system, assuming a ten-year life for the system, the purchase cost only accounts for about 12% of the total. Furthermore, 76% of the cost of owning a compressed air system comes in the form of electricity bills.
To put this in perspective, if you continuously run a 100-hp compressor at full power, you will spend $74,000 a year in energy costs, assuming a rate of 10 cents per kWh.

Therefore, if you are assessing the value of your compressed air system and making your decision in purely economic terms, you need to keep the total cost of ownership in the forefront of your mind. While the cost of repairs may be significantly less than the cost of replacing your system, ask yourself if you’re keeping a system working that’s actually costing you more in the long run by operating less efficiently.

These costs come in many different forms. First, as compressors age, the costs of repairs increase. That’s why you should carefully consider any repair that costs over 50% of the cost of a comparable replacement. But you also need to consider the operational inefficiencies and the subsequent costs of an older dental air compressor. Because of how inefficient some older models are, you may be wasting as much money on energy costs as you would spend on a new compressor.

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 Compressor

The Information about Oilless Air Compressor

Each dental tool you use has a specific pressure requirement for it to function properly. Look at the tools you have to see their pressure requirements, typically listed and measured in BAR. For many dental applications, like handheld tools, you’ll see around a five BAR requirement.

Aim a little higher than the BAR minimum so you can ensure you’ve got enough pressure when the compressor is powering multiple stations, or to compensate for any possible pressure drops across your piping.

If you’re trying to run tools with too little pressure, you can cause damage to the tool and possibly harm to your patients. When working with drills, drops in pressure can reduce its capability and fail to drill or cut as needed, making it take longer to treat patients — which increases the cost of your staff hours, anesthetic and even utility costs per patient.

Because you’re working with an oilless air compressor, you may also face louder compression cycles. The good news is that most dental offices are using compressors small enough to be fitted with filter silencers, significantly reducing the noise your unit will make.

Silencers can make sure the environment stays enjoyable for your patients and staff, so they can continue to operate without any safety dental equipment and so that you’re not creating an environment with any long-term risks related to your use of compressed air.

Oilless air compressor also tend to generate higher heat outputs and have a greater possibility of creating condensation, so they need plenty of room to vent and have air circulate around them. This is typically good news, because it means there is usually enough space to install silencers and covers which can reduce noise, while ensuring the proper breathing room for a full-functioning air compressor.

Sound covers and exhaust/vent silencers tend to come with their own warranty, so working with a reputable dealer can ensure your equipment is properly installed, maintained, and protected for its useful life.

You should also look at the construction of the unit itself. Ask your air compressor dealer about improvements to intake filters to reduce noise, the inclusion of rubber shock mounts and flatter frame options that can keep things steady and quiet during even extended operations.

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.

dental equipment, dental tips

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.

dental equipment

Paying Attention on the Use of Dental Air Compressor

When you’re using a poor-quality air compressor system that delivers either dirty air or an air compressor that delivers air at a lower pressure than required, you’ll see low-quality or even no operation of these devices. If air pressure is good, but the air itself is unclean, then you’re risking internal damage to those units, reducing their overall lifespan.

The biggest concern is moist air that can harm delicate internal machinery and quickly make your tools unusable. Moisture can lead to corrosion, microorganism contamination and decrease the precision of your tools. For those who select a low-quality air compressor, a common issue is carbon buildup that poses an even greater danger to the machinery in handpieces.

Electric dental handpieces also tend to have a greater cost and a higher number of parts that you’ll need to maintain, while air-driven pieces can be obtained in full, often for less than $1,000. Air-driven handpieces also tend to be lighter and easier to handle, with the latest innovations providing greater torque so you can use them for many applications over a longer period of time.

Oil-lubricated air compressors tend to be quieter and can last longer than other models, making them seem like a top choice for a dental office, but that may not be the case.

The main reason many dentists choose an oilless air compressor is because they have a lower risk of contaminating the compressed air with lubricant. These units also tend to be lighter, allowing them to be placed in a wider range of areas, while still creating as much air flow and pressure as many oil-lubricated models.

Removing the risk of contaminating the air is the biggest win and makes the most sense because it can protect the health and safety of your patients, staff and those in your office waiting areas. While you will need to perform maintenance slightly more often, the health and safety concerns significantly outweigh any benefit you’d see from using the heavier, lubricated models.

dental equipment

Choosing Right X-ray Machine for Your Dental Practice

If you’re a dentist in 2016, you already know that investing in the right kind of digital image equipment is half the battle. In dentistry, there are two types of digital imaging systems used in intraoral radiography: computed radiography (CR) and direct radiography (DR). These are then categorized into periapical and panoramic x ray machines.

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.

One type of portable dental x-ray is small, light, cordless and hand-held and can travel almost anywhere considering its compact size. This type of machine is an option for almost every patient, however, it’s especially useful for occasionally restless patients, such as young children, who require constant supervision and a quick x-ray. It can also be a better option to use in small spaces. The device works on battery so it’s important to have extras on hand in addition to a fully charged battery upon arrival regardless of where the patients are.

The other type of portable dental x-ray is one that uses a power cord and is slightly larger and heavier than the hand-held device; it’s also typically more durable. Each comes with a stand, which some dentists might find to be more comfortable and easier to use than a hand-held device. Some may also be able to operate as a hand-held device when using a stand isn’t necessary. This type is a good option for dentists who prefer to have the features of each type.

The first question that a doctor should ask themselves is, “What is the main type of treatment that I provide my patients?” If you are a general practitioner, a standard 2D panorex will provide all of the imaging requirements needed for such treatments as caries detection, diagnosis of TMJ issues, OPG images, and images of the patients entire detention in a single x-ray. Many of the newer 2D panoramic units also offer extraoral bitewing imaging capability, which allows the dentist to obtain a bitewing image without putting a sensor or periapical film inside of the patient’s mouth.

If the practice is concentrated in endodontic( Dental endo motor ) and implant treatment, then a CBCT machine is the most practical method of providing the doctor with diagnostic tools such as mandibular canal location, surgical guides, and pre-surgical treatment planning with the assistance of powerful 3D dental software applications. The patient is benefited by the reduced radiation exposure provided by these machines.