Bien Air Annonces Nova Electric Handpiece Will be Available for Ordering at Chicago MidWinter Meeting

 

I have used electric handpieces in my clinic for about 10-15 years now and I cannot bear the thought of ever being without them.  Because of my job in evaluating products for my peers, I approach things cautiously, letting products prove to me their value rather than expecting the value before I touch them.

So when I started with electrics, I went into it thinking there would not be much of a difference... and I cold not have been more wrong.  Within about 2 procedures, I understood electric headpieces were a total game changer for med  Before long I had invested in electrics in all of the 'doctor ops' in my practice and the air turbine headpieces began to gather dust.

Now I proud to announce to you that there is a new addition to the Bien Air family of electric handpieces.  The Nova system takes electrics to a new level.  I have been test driving them in my office since early December 2021 and I can tell you that if you are looking to upgrade your current electrics or are ready to install electrics in your practice, this handpiece should be on your short list to evaluate.  Here are some of the things that set it apart from the competition:

• The Nova is the first handpiece to be constructed of stainless steel.  That means it is durable and will look like new no matter how many autoclave cycles it goes through.
• It has the industry's ONLY sterilizable anti-retraction valve.  Almost every dental unit has these now, but the Nova has one inside the handpiece, which is an industry first.  That means added safety for your patients.
• The chuck of the Nova is the industry's first PVD coated chuck.  PVD stands for "Physical Vapor Deposition" which is a manufacturing technique where a solid material is vaporized in a vacuum chamber and deposited onto a target material.  The PVD coated chuck extends its life by 30%.  That is an amazing extension of service life.
• Cyclcro Gears - these are a material that are is used in the transmissions of high performance racing cars.  I find it incredible that the same type of metallurgy used in the transmission of Formula 1 cars is used in the transmission of a dental handpiece.  These smooth running gears help decrease vibration (which patients love) and doubles the service life of the handpiece.
• Between the PVD chuck and the Cylcro gears, this handpiece spends much more time in the doctor's hand & a lot less time in the repair shop.
• The smallest head with a 4 port water spray in dentistry.  In order to perform well, your must see well.  Having a handpiece that is small but has incredible torque and performance means your access to the field is better which means more efficient appointments with high quality preparations.

I truly feel that Bien Air has hit a home run with this product... and I don't say that lightly.  If you are looking to add to your electric armamentarium or if you are in the process of preparing to upgrade from air turbines to electric handpieces, be sure you to a close look at the new Nova.  I think you will be as impressed as I am.

Beware of Budget Composite Curing Lights

 Technology can be a double edged sword.  It can do amazing things, but it can also be used to perform amazing criminal acts.  One of those less than ethical things is selling goods that appear to be high quality but instead are not.

For the last decade many of us have been warning doctors about the risks of buying curing lights over the Internet from non name brand companies.  Often times a doctor, looking for a bargain will see an amazingly low price and make a purchase expecting the product to be similar to a name brand.

Unfortunately, curing lights are hard to judge.  You buy a light, it lights up blue, you figure it's doing what it is supposed to do...

However, that isn't always the case.  My friend Dr. Richard Price is part of a recently done study that should be required reading for the profession.  Dr. Price is a dentist and an amazing top-notch researcher as well.  I tell people that he may have forgotten more about curing lights than many of us will ever know.

The study he is part of compared "no name" curing lights against a well known quality brand unit.

Give the study a read and make your conclusions.  I think you'll see why many of us that teach have been encouraging name brand purchases...

Here is a link to the study.  

Bien-Air’s Nova Delivers New Standard in Electric Handpieces More Vision, Better Accessibility Top Enhanced Feature Set

 

For the past 2-3 months I've been evaluating the new Bien Air Nova electric handpiece.  I've used Bien Air in my own clinic for years and have always been happy with them.  They are durable,  powerful, and make doing dentistry easier.  One of the things about electric hand pieces that make them so much superior to air driven, is their power.  However, that sometimes comes as a tradeoff with the size of the handpiece head.

Bien Air has solved that problem with the new Nova.  The head is appreciably smaller and it is much easier to see around.  However, greater visibility is just ONE of the new features that make the Nova very special to me.  Here is the lowdown from the company...

Bien-Air Dental is excited to launch Nova, a new contra-angle engineered for practical innovation, optimal ergonomics and extreme reliability, at the 2022 Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting.

"Without agility, strength and power become ineffective. At Bien-Air, we approach our design and engineering problems from a holistic perspective to balance each point of strength—we don't want to reduce the weight if it means we increase noise, or we don't want to reduce the head size if it means you cannot use a standard length bur,” said Edgar Schönbächler, CEO of Bien-Air. “The Nova is our greatest achievement in making a handpiece that is smaller, quieter, and will last longer than any previous version. We were able to substantially reduce the size of the areas that come in contact with the fingertips of the user, without increasing vibration or reducing power. This makes the Nova a truly versatile tool—the, 'Swiss army knife' of dental handpieces." 

Nova is designed to overcome the challenges of a traditional handpiece. Highlights include:

• Small Head Packed with Power. The Nova’s small head and slim handle enhance the dentist’s field of vision and guarantee easier access in the abc of the mouth. It is the smallest head to also feature the Accu-Spray Quattro Mix system, focusing four asymmetrical air/water sprays on the end of the bur with laser precision to ensure optimal irrigation in the working area. Connected to one of Bien-Air’s LED motors, a multi-strand optical glass conductor simulates daylight conditions with reduced reflection for exceptional visibility in the working area.

• Unparalleled Ergonomics. In addition to being optimized for balance, the Nova’s stainless steel construction makes it the lightest handpiece in the Bien-Air portfolio. Its lightweight design improves the ergonomics and reduces wrist fatigue during day-to-day work. In addition, the perfectly optimized gears, and monobloc handle reduce both vibrations and the sound level for improved user comfort.

• Improved Reliability. The use of stainless steel significantly reduces wear on the handpiece and makes it 4 times more resistant to shocks. The chuck system features a new PVD coating that makes the opening/closing system more reliable and extends the service life by 30 % compared to a conventional handpiece. It also reduces the risk of jamming, allowing you to perform procedures without any interruptions. The Cylcro gears are designed to reduce friction and protect against wear. Thanks to the new design, the Nova offers double the service life of the previous generation.

• Enhanced Safety for Dentist and Patient. Risks of cross contamination are reduced thanks to the non-return valve and the Sealed Head protection. The non-return valve considerably reduces the flow of fluids from the oral cavity back into the dental unit’s hoses. Alongside this, the protective Sealed Head mechanism reduces the aspiration of fluids into the instrument head. Additionally, the patented Cool Touch+ heat-arresting technology integrated in the ceramic push-button prevents the build-up of heat to reduce the risk of burns to patients.

"Without compromising performance, our goal was to push the limits, to deliver the size and weight reduction demanded by the long hours kept by dental professionals," said Marco Gallina, VP of Innovation and Marketing for Bien-Air. "This is why we pushed ourselves to provide the smallest front bearing with four-port water spray, that will not overheat the working surface of the patient."

For more information about Nova or to schedule a demo, go to bienairusa.com/choosenova.

About Bien-Air Dental

Bien-Air develops dental instruments of the highest quality, recognized for Swiss-made precision that brings out the clinical best in dental practitioners. Founded by Swiss watchmaker Samuel Mosimann in 1959, the Bien-Air opened its US branch 20 later, delivering quality in product, service and support to dentists throughout North America. Find out more at bienairusa.com.

Announcing the 5th Annual Dental Hygiene Superhero Competition!

I just love to see a great idea take shape!  With that statement in mind, I'd like to give a shout out to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.  They have taken the idea of nominating someone who goes above and beyond expectations and turned it into a fun superhero themed competition.  Here are all the details...  

February 7, 2022 (Ottawa, ON) — Join forces with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) as we mark our fifth year recognizing dental hygiene health care superheroes in communities across Canada. Championed by CDHA and sponsored by SENSODYNE, the Dental Hygiene Superhero competition runs from February 1 to May 17 and celebrates dental hygienists who educate and empower their clients to embrace the “oral health for total health” motto.

Do you know a dental hygienist who promotes oral health for disease prevention and overall wellness? “The SENSODYNE Superhero competition is a great way to share your experiences with us, and to recognize the impact your dental hygienist has had on your oral and overall health,” says Wendy Stewart, CDHA president. “As a dental hygienist, I am always so proud to hear stories about how dental hygienists make differences in people’s lives,” adds Stewart. Over the past four years more than 3,200 deserving dental hygienists have been nominated by employers, clients or colleagues. In 2022 we hope to exceed last year’s 778 nominations. Nominees are evaluated on their client focus, empowerment through education, accountability, leadership, integrity, respect, and compassion. 

Nominate your dental hygienist health care superhero today! www.dentalhygienecanada.ca/healthcaresuperhero. 

CDHA is the collective national voice of more than 30,200 dental hygienists in Canada, directly representing 21,000 individual members, including students. Since 1963, CDHA has worked to advance the profession and promote the importance of oral health. Dental hygiene is the sixth largest regulated health profession in Canada with professionals working in a variety of settings, including independent dental hygiene practice, with people of all ages, addressing issues related to oral health. For more information on oral health, visit: www.dentalhygienecanada.ca.

OraCare Doubles Down with Dentists to Support Cancer Patients

 Company Agrees to Mates Dental Practice Purchases of OraCare Rinse with In-kind Donations to Cancer Patients

In recognition of National World Cancer Day, OraCare is expanding the scope of its OraCare Cares program with an in- kind donation to cancer patients when participating dentists purchase OraCare Rinse. Under the new initiative, called “Your Order, Their Relief”, the company will send a free set of OraCare Rinse to patients suffering side effects of radiation or chemotherapy, with each order placed. 

“OraCare was invented for general hygiene patients as a better alternative to chlorhexidine rinses. But almost immediately we started hearing from cancer patients telling us that it provides incredible relief from their uncomfortable side effects. We started the OraCare Cares Program specifically to help more of these patients,” said Dr. Robert Martino, OraCare CEO. Initially launched in November of 2020, the OraCare Cares program invites OraCare practices to register their patients facing cancer treatment to receive a free rinse kit. To date, the program has helped more than 2,000 cancer patients. 

The new “Your Order, Their Relief” initiative expands the company’s scope of support for cancer patients by creating a pledge of in-kind donations for every order placed. Dental providers looking to support the initiative can purchase online at oracareproducts.com or via phone at (855) 255-6722. With each order, one set of rinse will be automatically donated to patients in need, as designated by the participating practice, complements of OraCare. 

“Cancer patients have a unique set of dental health challenges, and they rely on dentists and their teams to help them cope,” said Kristin Goodfellow RDH, OraCare’s Clinical Director. “We think World Cancer Day is the perfect occasion to announce our increased commitment to supporting OraCare practices which in turn help so many patients at the most challenging points in their lives.”

To learn more about the OraCare Cares Program and register your patients, please visit

oracareproducts.com/oracarecares. For additional questions, interviews, and information; please contact Leah Wray, OraCare Cares Program Manager.

About OraCare

OraCare products are dedicated to raising the standard of care in dentistry through the development, production, and delivery of revolutionary products. Our unique partnership with the dental community is built upon the promise that you can only find our products in the dental office setting. Each product in our line is backed by real science and centered around the ingredient activated chlorine dioxide. Our company was founded for dental professionals by dental professionals, so we understand the doctor-patient dynamic. All of our products reflect our commitment to creating better health for our patients and to advancing the dental profession through our providers.

Ultradent Now Distributing Dental Bone Grafting Plug

 

For several years now, in my practice we have used OsteoGen bone grafting materials.  They are easy to use and they provide exceptional clinical results.  So I was excited to recently learn that those materials are now available for ordering through Ultradent.  I'm a big fan of Ultradent products and we use a lot of their products in the day to day operation of our practice.  Needless to say I was excited to hear about Ultradent now selling OsteoGen materials.  We order a lot of our supplies from Ultradent so this will make our ordering that much easier.

The OsteoGen Plugs are outstanding materials and now they are even easier to order.  Here is the info from Ultradent:

Ultradent Products, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, is now distributing the OsteoGen® Plug by Impladent Ltd. 

The OsteoGen® Plug is a dental bone grafting plug that combines non-ceramic OsteoGen® bioactive resorbable calcium apatite crystals with a Type I bovine achilles tendon collagen matrix. The bioactive calcium apatite crystals create a structure that mimics the organic and inorganic characteristics of actual bone and is resorbable allowing it to be replaced by host bone tissue within a few months. The OsteoGen plug is radiolucent when placed but will become radiopaque within 3–5 months when it has been replaced with host bone tissue; implant placement can then be achieved. The OsteoGen® Plug is manufactured by Impladent Ltd. Jamaica, NY.

Warming Composite is No Longer an Interesting Concept

 

I've been a big fan of warm composite for years now.  I think that I started with the concept over 15 years ago and I've used it consistently ever since.  Of course you don't have to take my word for it, there has also been tons of research done on the concept and those studies show that the science doesn't lie.

In fact, you can find links to some of those studies as well as a video that shows the science if you follow this link to the Addent Website.

Warming composite increases curing density and makes the material easy to place as well.  In the link above, you can find info not only on warming composites but also on the Calmest device which is the warming device created by Addent.  I love the Calmest system and they have been in my treatment areas as long as I've been working with warmed composites.

However, the one drawback to warming bases is the fact that once you take the material off the warmer ti starts to cool down.  If only there was a way to keep the composite warm right up to the point that it is placed in the preparation.  So say "Hello" to the Compex HD from Addent.  It is the company's newest product the "Thermal Assisted Composite Dispenser".

This high tech device is a dispenser gun that heats the composite capsule as it sits in the barrel.  That solves the problem of the material being warm right up to the point it goes into the prep!

The Compex HD arrived in my office on January 31st and as I type this, I've used it  in a total of ONE procedure.  My initial impressions are very favorable.  The drive feels good in the hands, dispenses composite easily, and performs as expected.  Of course, one procedure is not nearly enough to give an overall evaluation.

I'll continue using it and will report back in a month or so on how my clinical evaluation has progressed.    For you early adopters out there, if you would like to order one of your own right now, here is the link to the Addent website.