Inside My Practice with Bob Margeas

Dear Colleague,

In my dental practice, I choose products whenever possible from manufacturers that have a reputation and a track record of integrity, high quality, and innovation. Three such companies are presented here, with examples of their products that help me practice at the highest level to provide excellent clinical care and ensure patient satisfaction.

By showing what I use in my practice and what advantages each product has, I hope this column continues to be a valuable resource.

For questions or comments about any of the products I discuss in my column, please email me at rmargeas@aegiscomm.com.

Best,

Bob Margeas, DDS

Ultrapak^® Cord

Ultradent Products, Inc.

Figure 1 | Over the past 30 years, Ultradent has improved the Ultrapak retraction cord to come in an array of sizes to help clinicians control bleeding in the sulcus for restorative procedures.

Ultrapak is a knitted cord that comes in sizes 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3. The size I use the most is the 000 because it’s very, very thin and can be placed in the sulcus without damaging tissue when you have minimal space. The smallness of the cord and the range of cord sizes are important because not everyone has the same sulcus width around the tooth. These sizes allow the clinician to adapt to each patient.

This product is also very easy to pack and
stays in place throughout the procedure. The beauty of this product is that it’s knitted—not braided; this allows the retraction cord to better hold the hemostatic agent for a more efficient procedure.

Composi-Tight^® 3D XR

Garrison Dental Solutions

Figure 2 | The Composi-Tight 3D XR matrix system has earned its name. It is indicated for posterior composites and Class II composite restorations, and has become an essential tool in my restorative procedures. While I’ve also had success with its sister product Composi-Tight 3D, this enhancement of the 3D system is shorter and has a better grip for shorter teeth. With its enhanced grip, this product offers better separation and eases the transition between cuspids and biscuspids, and for pediatric indications.

During a procedure, the 3D XR system adapts well to the teeth as it easily and tenaciously plants onto the tooth. Because it offers optimal separation, clinicians can expect a tight contact after placing the restoration.

CaineTips^™

J. Morita USA

Figure 3 | With CaineTips I can deliver a virtually painless injection; they offer great coverage, are easy to use, and are easy to place in the patient’s mouth.

Unlike some of the stronger pre-anesthetic topicals, CaineTips won’t irritate tissue. Others can be very caustic to the tissue and burn the patient.

CaineTips are a single-use, pre-anesthetic that resembles a cotton swab. To use, you simply snap one end of the CaineTip, and let the fluid rush to the other tip. After letting it set for about a minute or two, the site is ready for injection.

CaineTips are extremely versatile and can be used on canker sores or other oral lesions for fast pain relief. I often give them to my patients for them to carry in their purse or pocket, so they can reapply when the pain returns.