Patti Phelps

	Glide path negotiation is difficult and time consuming 

	There are often challenges when establishing the glide path using stainless steel hand files, typically when going from the #10 to the #15 or #20, which can represent an increase in tip diameter of 50 percent. 

	• A nickle titanium rotary file said to make forming the glide path easier, reducing time and manual labor and improving efficiency

	• Reported to be the only file system offering tip sizes of 0.13 and 0.18 with an 0.06 taper, decreasing the stress on later shaping files

	• Features maximum Ffute diameter, which means taper stops increasing when file diameter reaches 1 mm

	• A triangular cross section allows for greater cutting efficiency

	• Reportedly incurs less debris apical extrusion than files used under reciprocation motion

	• Files are pre-sterilized, doing away with the need to autoclave the file before using

	• Traverse files feature a non- cutting tip to minimize transportation

For more info contact KaVo Kerr: 800-537-7123 / kerrdental.com 

Articles

How Traverse streamlines the process of glide path creation. 

Solve my problem: The secret to a successful endodontic procedure

	Occasional dry mouth isn’t uncommon; however, if a patient constantly experiences “cottonmouth,” he or she may seek medical and/or dental help.

	Medically known as xerostomia, this condition occurs when there’s not enough saliva in the mouth.

	 “I’d say about 10 to 15 percent of my patients have xerostomia. Not all of them are aware of it or really think about it,” says Kim Miller, DDS, who has been practicing independently in Cary, N.C., for more than 23 years. “But, it seems to be disproportionately women, especially over age 50, who are taking medications.

	“We may notice signs of xerostomia before the patient does and routinely ask if they are taking any medications that may cause this,” Dr. Miller continues. “Other than being uncomfortable, if a patient’s mouth is dry, we worry about a higher caries rate as well as recurrent carries around restorations. In aging patients who have gum loss and recession, xerostomia makes their teeth more susceptible to root caries, which are devastating and really difficult to treat. Therefore, prevention is always more cost-effective. We’re trying to help people avoid dentistry.”

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	Dr. Miller says she first learned of XyliMelts

, oral adhering discs that stick to your teeth or gums to help relieve persistent dry mouth, at an American Dental Association meeting several years ago. XyliMelts are made with a sugar substitute, xylitol. This naturally sweet carbohydrate found in raspberries, corn, oats and other plants helps to stimulate saliva flow. The discs slowly release 550 mg of xylitol over time-meaning hours of dry mouth relief as they coat, lubricate and increase saliva flow, especially while sleeping when dry mouth is at its worst.

	“We have samples available that we hand out regularly,” Dr. Miller says. “We also tell patients where they can purchase XyliMelts, such as local drug stores as well as Amazon.”         

	Dr. Miller says the response she has been getting from her patients who have used these is “actually very good. Patients tend to continue using them. And they’re really easy to use-elderly patients with limited dexterity also seem to do fine.”

	In fact, Dr. Miller takes these herself. “I started using XyliMelts about three or four years ago. I’ll use one just a few times a month. I like the mint one because I think it stimulates the saliva a little bit better and I like the fresh feeling. I usually take one disc at a time. I think the directions say you can use one or two, but I find that one seems to work well.”

	“And the nice thing is they’re safe,” she adds. “There’s really not another product on the market I’m aware of that you can place in your mouth at night and get a little bit of relief. They tend to last two to four hours during the day and longer at night. Other products are usually sprays or gels that just don’t last, and drinking water really isn’t a long-term solution.”

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	Clinical research on XyliMelts has been limited until recently; however, Dr. Miller relies on anecdotal evidence.

	“I feel confident in having my patients use themÂ­Â­-and the acceptance is really good,” she says. “One of the things that sets this product apart is the longevity of symptom relief, and they are really easy to place properly.”

	“If the patient and the provider are aware of xerostomia, it will help in the appropriate management,” she adds. “If we can first make the patient more conscious of how to modify their diet, improve oral hygiene and use fluorides, the XyliMelts can then help manage dry mouth and make things more comfortable. If we can help patients avoid discomfort and preserve their teeth, we’ve met our primary goal in healthcare, as dental healthcare providers.”

One dentist’s recommendation for treating this desiccating condition. 

How to find relief from xerostomia and reduce caries

	Running a successful dental practice presents new challenges on a daily basis. In today’s digital world, practice management software (PMS) has become essential to successfully manage and grow your practice. Accessing this tool will streamline your processes, making your practice more efficient, saving you both time and money.

Read more: IoMT and the future of dentistry

	If you don’t know what’s out there, or what would best fit your specific needs, we  have assembled the latest in software trends that will help you deliver quality care and stay compliant with all the regulatory requirements associated with healthcare information. No matter what size your practice is, if you’re just starting up, or looking to upgrade, there is something for you.

	Click through the slides to check out the products.

		Has been creating PMS for more than 26 years, offering both local server and cloud-based database; reportedly the only software using a hybrid cloud

		Provides all the protection of an encrypted cloud database with faster running software because the program is installed on a local computer

		Said to be the only software that offers E-recalls on autopilot, alerting patients with emails and text messages and allowing them the ease and convenience of scheduling appointments online

		Available on-premise or cloud-based, provides quick access to the entire patient record. With more than 100 possible combinations for viewing information, offers extreme flexibility to access relevant details

		A color-coded dashboard is featured, displaying appointments and messaging for easy viewing

		Alerts, clinical notes, prescriptions, exams, digital images and more can be viewed on one screen

		Offers hosted versions of all its on-premise software. Switching to the cloud, users are always on the latest versions of their preferred software; updates are managed and automatically installed

		Data is backed up every four hours and a Tier 4 data center ensures those files are secure

		Cloud users enjoy the benefit of 24/7, 365 days a year monitoring and a dedicated cloud support team

		Software that provides charting, scheduling, billing, patient communication, practice analytics and much more

		Designed to reduce training time, improve staff efficiency, and help your practice adhere to all necessary standards, certifications and guidelines

		Able to customize to fit your needs, there’s no worry about switching between programs or who to call for support. Ensuring compliance, ClearDent is an ISO-certified program

		Founded in 2005, Curve Dental reportedly delivers the first cloud-based, enterprise-level PMS platform for dentistry and continues to drive innovation

		More than 23,000 dental professionals are said to benefit from this platform built on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and deep dental expertise

		Reported to have a singular focus on delivering exceptional worry-free PMS and 5-star customer support

		Online platform designed to make it easy for dental professionals to manage the patient referral process- automatically, in the cloud

		Streamlines the communication necessary to send and receive patient referrals by creating a shared patient chart and chat log that updates in real time

		The system is said to be 100 percent secure, HIPAA compliant and requires no special equipment

		Said to be intuitive and flexible while also mirroring a practice’s workflow from registering the patient to financials

		Includes easy-to-use but comprehensive features such as e-RX, electronic patient registration and live patient insurance updates, to name a few

		No worries about upgrades or servers. Data is said to be secure and always up to date. A dedicated in-house support team with dental professionals at the helm is also offered

		Featuring Smart Image, your clinical and financial processes can now connect, providing one efficient workflow

		When you acquire diagnostic images, Smart Image automatically associates them with the correct CDT codes for accurate billing and displays them in the patient chart, saving you both time and money

		The patient’s 2D and 3D images can now also be accessed without leaving Dentrix

		A multi-specialty, all-in-one practice management, imaging and charting software for dentists who use Apple products. Built-in encryption avoids PC ransomware and malware that can infect Windows

		New and updated services including Jive phone service, Text2Pay, Rx Discount Coupon and TSYS-powered credit card payment processing

		Integral insurance features empowered by Change Healthcare clearinghouse for eclaims

		Since 1980, it has been providing PMS solutions, and from the beginning of 2018, has been offering its software with data conversion at no cost

Rounding up the top practice management software available for dental offices.