Dent-Line of Canada Inc. Toll Free 1-800-896-6544 (for Canada only) 416-858-9865 or Fax No. 416-858-9899
Dent-Line of Canada Inc. Toll Free 1-800-896-6544 (for Canada only) 416-858-9865 or Fax No. 416-858-9899
A BULLETIN DEALING WITH ISSUES FOR DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Inside This Issue
1. Case Subject; VKS Root Caps Mini
2. Letter from the President
3. Dentist Up for $100,000 Award
4. Artificial Enamel Filling Material
One of our Toronto dental lab customers called in to order Bredent VKS attachments. He had selected the VKS mini (1.7) for root caps and wanted to discuss the case to make sure that it would work, since there were some interesting criteria. The patient was edentulous except for both centrals and one lateral. The clinical crown of the lateral was cut off and endontics was performed. A stock tooth was placed on the denture. The dentist wanted to pick up the denture by cold curing the housing in place with acrylic, while the denture was in place intraorally. The patient’s lower anteriors were just about touching the cingulum marginal area of the lateral. There was only about 4 mm from lingual to labial so room was of major concern. We discussed the possibility of perhaps slightly moving the path of insertion to approximate the angle of the lateral denture tooth. This solution gave us the room required to complete the case properly. Another real case solution proves that the Bredent VKS attachment system is the most comprehensive and versatile attachment system available period.For technical assistance on the Bredent VKS Attachment System call: 1-800-859-7589 or e-mail us today at dent-line of canada inc.
Introducing The Smallest Carbide in the World
New from Bredent!
Bredent produced this carbide instrument to finish and smooth fissures in porcelain and metal. At 0.2 mm grooves can be trimmed more delicately and precisely than ever before.
As we move toward the new millennium, we wish to thank all of you who have chosen Bredent products and attachments to complete your cases. I’m glad to say that every year Bredent introduces new innovative products that can make your laboratory life a little easier. Bredent has expanded technical support that will include a state of the Art Training Laboratory in Miami, Florida. We are continuing to offer ways and means to market your technical skills, so you can improve service and better respond to the needs of your dentist and their patients. Once again, we thank you for all the support you have given us. Together, we can move forward into the next millennium with Bredent.
Peter T. Pontsa, R.D.T.
Recently we learned from the Sunday Times that the days of frightful dental fillings could soon be over. Dentists should be able to restore teeth with a natural substance, human dental enamel, instead of restoring them with dental filling materials. After 17 years of study, a team of researchers at the University of South California is close to creating a process that can make enamel artificially. Traditionally dentistry has used many different materials, but nothing is as good as the natural enamel, one of the researchers said. When their work is finished, the commercial application and the health implications could be enormous. Charles Shuller, director of dental research at USC says “The advantage of this enamel s that you can restore teeth with a physiologically compatible material. It will have the same physical properties as dental enamel, biocompatablity with the body and should not generate the reactions that can be caused by foreign materials”. The researchers estimate that they are two years away from producing a prototype paste of the enamel, which will eventually lead to “bioceramic fillings” to provide a long term answer to tooth decay. According to one researcher “It means that we understand how nature forms the enamel, and how to the mineralized tissue is formed biologically. The great triumph for science will be that we can reproduce enamel outside the body”. Unlike bones, enamel does not regenerate. When they have produced a prototype, the researchers believe recreating dental enamel will lead to a wide range of commercial applications. Should the researchers be right about creating enamel in vitro, the principles could be extrapolated to create other bioceramic materials.
After four years of work, an implant system designed by a Collingwood dentist has been nominated for the $100,000 Manning Award according to our local Huronia business newspaper. Dr. Milan Somborac is one of 24 innovators from across Canada in the running for the Manning Award, which recognizes Canadian innovators from all disciplines. The Tenex Dental Implant System employs a number of the best features of existing implant systems. While traditional implant procedures require two separate surgeries the Tenex system requires one operation. With the Tenex System there is no need to cut any of the adjacent teeth and the implant’s porous coating allows for rapid healing. Other benefits of the implant are a relatively uncomplicated procedure and a predicted life expectancy of up to 30 years. Stringent testing and a 100 page document submitted to Health Canada led to the implant receiving regulatory clearance. The implant is manufactured in Cambridge by Strite Industries. To date about 70 patients have been fitted with the new implant. Dr. Somborac has spoken about the benefits of the Tenex system recently to the Ontario Dental Association. Dr. Somborac plans to market his implant system through a full service dental dealer.