How do you choose the products in your armamentarium?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 10th July 2021
The dental market is saturated with options, so it can be difficult to know which products will best suit your individual working style, be the most beneficial for your patients and facilitate the best outcomes.
As such, it’s beneficial to differentiate between the materials available so that you can make an informed choice that benefits not only your own working life, but also the patients you treat as well.
Find weaknesses in your armamentarium
As dentistry is such highly skilled work, it’s inevitable that there may be solutions that don’t suit your talents or that make certain treatments more difficult than necessary. These “weak links” in your armamentarium are prime examples of products you should focus on replacing with alternatives, especially if they are preventing you from providing the best treatment possible.
Of course, it’s unlikely that you will be using products that are very frustrating – but what about the minor annoyances? An example could be if your restorative composite is sometimes difficult to handle, or perhaps your adhesive doesn’t always bond well with all materials. These are the small inconveniences you should keep note of so that you can strengthen your product selection moving forwards.
Think about the way you work
Every clinician works differently, and this means a solution that is best for one individual may not be the best fit for another. What it effectively boils down to is the way you work and what features you value most in the products you use.
For example, maybe you work best with products that give you flexibility, such as a restoration material that can be used with any etching technique. On the other hand, you may have preferred workflows that prevent you from using some materials or which some solutions are especially designed for. It’s good to evaluate these quirks in the way you work to find products that suit them.
Another example could be that you are looking to simplify your armamentarium and want a product that can effectively be used across a number of clinical situations. By looking closely at the recommended indications of solutions and understanding their properties, you can have a better idea of which potential innovations will best fit your style of work.
What are the benefits these products provide?
Another smart thing to hone in on is specific benefits or properties you want products to have. Time is such an important asset in dentistry, so it’s wise to look at solutions that can streamline treatments and make them easier to perform in less time without impacting the quality of outcomes. You can also think about the long-term benefits and durability of potential products when implemented for different indications.
In addition, it’s important to think about all this from a patient perspective. Products that are easier and faster to use will inevitably cause less discomfort for patients, helping them to enjoy swifter, more convenient treatment. It’s also a smart idea to see if any potential solutions have features designed for encouraging patient comfort/eliminating discomfort – patients are the lifeblood of your practice and by appealing to their needs and preferences, you can ensure that they are likely to return to your care time and time again.
Product samples for a better idea
If a company is proud of its innovations, it will likely give professionals the chance to sample them for free. This is an ideal way to get used to what the products are like first-hand and gives you unmatched insight into how they could improve your workflows and the quality of the treatment you provide.
In light of this, 3M Oral Care has recently started offering professionals a free Experience Demo Cube sample box. This includes 3M Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative Composite, 3M Filtek Universal Restorative, 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive and a tooth model to use them on, meaning that professionals can get a genuine feel for some of the latest innovations before they order them. Within the box is also a link to exclusive training videos and other helpful resources to encourage professionals to make the most of the contents of the Experience Demo Cube and learn more about these cutting-edge solutions.
Your choice matters
In the end, choosing the correct products for your daily workflows is crucial. The correct choices can improve the way you work and the quality of treatment you provide, as well as boost other desirable outcomes such as patient comfort and satisfaction. By sampling available products, you can see what solutions work best for you and make an informed choice.
To find out more, please visit www.go.3m.com/exp-cube
For more information, call 0845 873 4066 or visit www.go.3m.com/exp-cube
3M representatives remain contactable by phone or via video conferencing
3M, Filtek and Scotchbond are trademarks of the 3M Company.
