Streamlining treatment at every step
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 10th April 2022
In dentistry, there’s no such thing as a one solution fits all treatment. Add to this the sheer level of product choice in the market these days, and it’s easy to see why treatment such as indirect restorative work can become needlessly complicated. Time is money in dentistry, and juggling multiple adhesives, primers, cements and other materials is often wasteful, time-consuming and a stressful experience for all involved.
So, in what ways can professionals streamline indirect restorative treatment?
It all starts with product selection
The famous saying states that “a workman is only as good as his tools” and in dentistry this certainly contains a grain of truth. Even the best dentists aren’t able to exceed the limits of certain products, and this means that for the majority of professionals, their armamentarium is perhaps comprised of more solutions than necessary.
So, how do you go about choosing the most beneficial products for the way you work? A good starting point is to look at the treatments you perform most regularly and see if there are products out there with features that are better suited to your individual needs. For example, say your current products require a lot of time to use or need complementary products in order to achieve the outcomes you’re looking for – is there, for instance, a dental cement that you can use instead that removes the need for additional adhesive and primer?
Identify the current products in your repertoire that cause inconvenience – it’s likely that there is a more useful alternative that better suits your working style and the needs of your patients. You can even try asking companies for samples of certain products to see if they suit your style – don’t be afraid to try something new!
Foundation and design
The quality and amount of remaining tooth structure are key when it comes to selecting the correct treatment. Similarly, the preparation design for the selected treatment will also make a considerable difference to the longevity of the final restoration. Bearing these points in mind, you can streamline treatment from the word go with correct technique selection and the quality of your preparation.
By making informed decisions at this stage, it can instantly make treatment more manageable, predictable and likely to succeed moving forward.
Temporisation – more important than you think!
One stage of indirect restorative treatment that often goes overlooked is the importance of temporisation. Temporary materials not only protect the underlying tissue and tooth structure, but they also play a significant role in maintaining function and aesthetics as well as conditioning gingival tissues for the permanent restoration.
Correct temporisation practices will ensure that treatment is more predictable, so it’s definitely worth looking for materials that offer both functional and aesthetic value, as well as the ability to correctly safeguard the tissue and tooth structure for as long as necessary.
More than a first impression
Another area where treatment can be streamlined is during the impression-taking process. Much like initial product selection, the impressioning material you use can significantly impact the outcome of the final restoration. The technique is also important, so it’s a smart idea to assess your current impression material and see if there are any improvements to be made. Whether this is selecting a material that sets faster or one that has a better level of detail reproduction, this essential step hugely influences all that proceed it and can help streamline treatment by being correct first time.
Cementing for success
Cementation is not necessarily a simple step, and depending on the material used for the restoration and the preparation design, cement selection will differ. To streamline this stage of treatment, it’s useful to look at the properties of the dental cements you’re currently using and see if any products can be substituted for those with wider uses. For example, say that your current cement works well on metals but isn’t as reliable when securing ceramics – if you can find a product that works well across all materials and etching techniques, you can minimise your product selection without negatively affecting final outcomes.
Your success – simplified!
These steps are just some of the innovative 7-step programme that form Success Simplified from 3M Oral Care. Developed in conjunction with leading professionals, Success Simplified is a straightforward guide to maximising indirect restorative dentistry through considered product selection and enhanced understanding of each step. You can download the free booklet or watch the online webinar here: https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/dentalv2-uk/indirect-restorations/success-simplified/
Make treatment simple
By taking the time to consider each step of treatment and how this can be improved, you can easily find ways to streamline the way you work and your product selection without impacting, and even possibly improving the quality of the care you provide.
For more information, call 08705 360 036 or visit https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/dentalv2-uk/indirect-restorations/success-simplified/
3M is a trademark of the 3M Company.
