Renee Knight is a freelance writer and editor who's been covering the dental industry for 15 years. 

Renee Knight

The patient-first philosophy behind Rock Run Dental has helped this practice thrive. 

Patients trust and respect the Rock Run Dental team, and feel like family both inside and outside the office. Over the years, 

 has helped provide this practice with the products necessary to create that type of environment in their dental practice.

Dr. Rand Mattson is always looking for what’s next.

He’s not satisfied to simply stay in place; he wants to keep learning and growing and to continue to find ways to enhance his practice. He wants to ensure he’s providing the best care possible, and to do that he has to stay passionate about dentistry.

“Early on I learned the most important thing is to absolutely put the patient first, and to do that I had to be happy,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to work every day and be on a treadmill. I decided I would do as much continuing education as I could in areas of interest and that I would try and match my skills with those patients seeking out that type of dentistry.”

Dr. Mattson has practiced dentistry in Utah for about 30 years, and moved Rock Run Dental to its current location in Roy, Utah, 10 years ago. Before the move, Dr. Mattson and his team worked out of an old house that had been converted into a dental office, an office that wasn’t big enough for the number of patients the team saw each day.

It had just gotten to the point where dentistry wasn’t fun anymore and Dr. Mattson was burnt out. He was ready to call it quits, but after a conversation with his Patterson Dental branch manager, he decided maybe it wasn’t time to give up dentistry just yet.

“He said you need to trash the place you’re in and you need to start over and build a new practice,” Dr. Mattson said. “That started the ball rolling. Then we looked to see what we could do [with the new practice] and what was possible.”

Dr. Mattson had a clear vision of what he wanted his practice to be, and after he found the right space he was able to put that vision into action. He wanted a practice patients could feel good about coming to, a practice where they’d feel comfortable. He wanted to create a space where patients would feel like family, and he couldn’t be happier with the result. The only regret he has is not making the move 10 years earlier.

“When we can treat patients like family, then they know we have their best interest at heart. It makes treatment plan acceptance much better,” Dr. Mattson said. “And you never have a dilemma about what to do for patients if you think, ‘Gee, what would I want done on my teeth.’ The buy-in is tremendous and we’ve been able to significantly increase the acceptance level for quality dentistry.”

The team at Rock Run Dental has a patient-first philosophy, and that means they won’t bring a new product into the practice unless there’s a clear patient benefit, Dr. Mattson said. If there’s nothing in it for the patient, Dr. Mattson doesn’t see a need for it in his practice.

“If it’s going to make the treatment better, have a better outcome for my patients or make it easier for them, that’s the main consideration for me,” Dr. Mattson said. “I’m not so sure that faster or more profit is anything I’m real concerned about right now. At this stage of the game it’s more about life balance. It’s more about making the process better for the patient and for me.”

There are many products in the practice that help Dr. Mattson and his team do that, but the 

Sirona really stand out. When patients can see what’s happening in their mouth on a radiograph, they’re more likely to understand what’s happening and to accept any necessary treatment.

They take more ownership of their oral health, and that leads to patients making positive changes to improve their oral health long-term.

Dr. Mattson and his team know how crucial patient education is, and Patterson Dental’s CAESY Patient Education System is another way they make sure patients understand what is going on in their mouths and the treatments that can get them to health. They use the videos as another way to communicate with patients, and Dr. Mattson said it’s a very effective method.

“Often times, education occurs when we’re not even there,” Dr. Mattson said. “We have some of the units set up so that there’s an overhead screen that the patient can see, and when we’re not active on the keyboard for a few minutes, it goes through various CAESY vignettes. It’s amazing how many times patients will comment on something that they saw on the vignette.”

If patients have a question about something, they can show them a video on that particular topic, and even print the information out for them or email it to them so they can refer to it later at home. CAESY is a great educational tool, and fits perfectly with the practice’s patient-first philosophy.

Rock Run Dental is a paperless office, and Dr. Mattson said he doesn’t know what he and his team members 

With Eaglesoft, he doesn’t even have to worry about an x-ray being misfiled. It keeps everything organized, and everyone in the office has access to files they need whenever they need them. If they want to show a patient a radiograph taken at a prior appointment, they can do that through 

“The front desk can be working on insurance issues or scheduling appointments at the same time the people in the back can be referencing x-rays, treatment plans, taking images, either radiographs or photographs,” Dr. Mattson said. “You have a record available all the time.”

Eaglesoft also makes working with insurance companies much easier and streamlined.

If the insurance company needs an image or an x-ray, Dr. Mattson can easily send it to them so the claim can go forward. RevenueWell has been another great addition to the practice that patients have grown to appreciate. They use RevenueWell to send appointment reminders via text and email, facilitate patient reviews, send birthday cards, promote marketing campaigns and accept payment. Patients can even log-in to their accounts from home to check on appointment times or anything else they might want to know. This type of system frees up time at the front desk because there’s no need to spend time on the phone confirming appointments; it’s done through RevenueWell.

RevenueWell saved the practice a lot of time a few months ago when one of the hygienists had to call in sick, Dr. Mattson said. The office manager was able to send out an email blast to all of the hygienist’s patients through RevenueWell, and that meant they didn’t have to call every patient to tell them their appointment was canceled.

RevenueWell uses information from your existing practice management software, making the process extremely easy.

“Together RevenueWell and Eaglesoft are extremely efficient,” Dr. Mattson said. “I couldn’t practice dentistry at the level I’m practicing at right now without those two products.”

Eaglesoft 17 Practice Management Software

Eaglesoft 17 has new features to simplify your daily routine including customized 

medical history, Eaglesoft News Feed, Patterson Auto Update via the Web instead of using a disc to install updates, CareCredit bridge providing a direct link to process credit applications, and integrated Clinician Lite for Eaglesoft Clinician users.

Using information from a dental practice’s existing practice management software - such as Eaglesoft - the RevenueWell online practice marketing and patient communications software suite communicates with patients to provide them with 24-7 access to their accounts. Practices can collect online patient reviews, request referrals and establish and maintain their profiles across more than 100 online destinations.

CAESY Patient Education Systems is now online via CAESY Cloud, offering instant access to more than 350 multimedia presentations and access to patient education resources from multiple locations within the practice. New videos and features are frequently posted. No installation and no network connections between participating computers are required. It is PC and Mac compatible, including iPads, iPhones and smartphones.

Articles

These are the top products behind a patient-first dental practice [VIDEO]

-have positioned Golan Family Dentistry as a leading-edge practice that puts optimal patient care and comfort first.

About three years ago, Dr. Howard Golan decided it was time the atmosphere at his practice reflected the high-tech, leading-edge dentistry he offers.

He practices with his father, Dr. Marshall Golan, who first opened Golan Family Den­tistry about 40 years ago. Dr. Howard Golan came on as his partner in 1998, and since then they’ve worked together to cre­ate a practice that focuses on treating the mouth as part of the body, not just individual teeth.

They offer their patients mini­mally invasive, preventative dentistry and all the high-tech products that make that kind of care possible, but until recently they practiced in the basement of a house. While it was a nice space, the father/son team began to outgrow it, and knew it was time to create a new, mod­ern practice that would wow their patients and better reflect the type of dentistry they offer.

After some searching, they found the right space to build their dream practice in Willston Park, N.Y., a space they could use to really showcase their technology and better do the type of dentistry they love. After working with an interior designer to create the look and feel they wanted, they moved into their new practice a year and a half ago. Today, the team couldn’t be happier with the modern atmosphere they were able to create.

“Patients who have been with us for many years are in shock,” Dr. Golan said. “It’s pretty amazing. I don’t feel self-conscious any more when a new patient comes in looking for technology. Our office now matches what we do.”

The right technology is essen­tial to any dental practice, Dr. Golan said, and that’s why it is so important to him that his practice reflects that high-tech philosophy of care.

Dr. Golan has built his reputation on mak­ing technology and advanced treatment a big part of what they do at Golan Family Dentistry. Patients know he’s a high-tech dentist and that he offers the products that will make their time in the chair less stressful and more comfortable. Beyond that, using high-tech products in his practice keeps him passionate about his work.

“For me it’s essential. It makes my life easier. It makes me enjoy what I do more,” he said. “I’ve never been a ‘drill and fill’ guy. I call that pot­hole dentistry. That kind of dentistry can make you a lot of money but it didn’t work for me. I needed something different.”

Dr. Golan’s love of technol­ogy started with the laser, then expanded to cone beam tech­nology and digital impression taking. Thanks to products from Biolase-the 

-Dr. Golan has the complete technology solution for diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Golan first began using Bio­lase’s WaterLase in 2004, and is amazed every day by what he can do with it. He now uses the lat­est version, the WaterLase iPlus, and even teaches courses about laser dentistry and what it can do for a practice. Laser dentistry is an amazing technology, he said, and more dentists need to under­stand just how valuable it is.

“It’s built this practice. Peo­ple ask for it. They look for it."

"They’re amazed by it. They’re excited by it,” Dr. Golan said. “And it’s not just the patients; it’s me. What I can do with laser dentistry wows me every day. It’s hard for a dentist to find a reason every day to say ‘wow that was cool.’ We’re doing that every day because of what we can do with lasers.”

The benefits laser dentistry bring patients go far beyond the wow factor they experience when they first see it displayed in the practice. It’s a mini­mally invasive technology that reduces the bleeding and pain normally experienced with a variety of dental procedures, from cavity preps to soft tissue management to root canals, Dr. Golan said. The benefits have been tremendous over the years, attracting new patients to Golan Family Dentistry.

About two years ago, Dr. Golan added the 

. It seemed like the next natural extension, he said, and adding cone beam technology into his practice has improved diagnosis.

“It was to the point where the WaterLase had forced me to get better at diagnosing and under­standing why things happen,” Dr. Golan said. “There’s a limit to what 2D film can give you. I got tired of the ‘wait and see’ approach. 

allows us to see things we couldn’t see before.”

And with this technology, his patients see the benefit right away, Dr. Golan said. The 3D scans really enable them to see what’s happening in their mouth, giving them a better understanding of why they need certain treatment. The 3D scans create accurate renderings that labs can use to create restorations that fit, and they can do it in less time. It’s also great for his patients who are concerned about radiation dose levels.

“The NewTom is spectacu­lar because it has safety fea­tures on it. It has five fields of view, which allows me to only expose patients to what I need then,” Dr. Golan said. “If I just need to look at a single tooth, I can do a 6X6 cm Field of View, or if I’m doing an orthodontic case I can do a 15X15 cm FOV. It has SafeBeam Technology. Every patient gets a different dose; the computer decides the dose. It takes scout images at a basic, very low dosage to make sure positioning is right, and then the machine calculates the necessary dosage to get what it needs. A child is different than a teenager, who is different than an adult.”

 has been part of Golan Family Dentistry for about seven years now, but they just added the 

 to the mix about eight months ago, taking it to the next level. The TRIOS has enabled them to cut down treatment times while offering even more accurate impres­sions.

Patients love it because they don’t have to deal with the “goop” so often associated with impressions, and if Dr. Golan needs a re-take, it just involves a simple scan rather than four more minutes of impression material in their mouth. That also means less chair time for busy patients.

“Patients are amazed by it,” he said. “I had a patient I had to give nitrous oxide and topi­cal anesthetic to just to do an impression, and now there’s no issue. We had to get my son an orthodontic appliance, but he’s a mouth breather and a gagger. I couldn’t get an impression on him. He was great with this and had no issues. That’s a big, big change.”

Dr. Golan and the team at Golan Family Dentistry know how important product deci­sions are to the success of their practice. When Dr. Golan looks at a new technology, he asks himself if it will change the way he practices. Will it make his job easier, and his patients more comfortable. While ROI is an important factor, it’s not the only factor and not always the most important; finding products that improve the care he and his team provides is.

“Those three technolo­gies have really been robust in changing how we deliver den­tistry and how patients perceive us and where we’re going from here,” Dr. Golan said.

Not only that, Dr. Golan looks for products that will keep him excited and passion­ate about dentistry, products that make him look forward to coming to work every day. He’s found that with these three Biolase products, his total technol­ogy solution.

“It’s also about what it’s going to do for the patient and what it’s going to do for you, if it has a value for me to do better work, or to do more work and be excited about what I do every day,” Dr. Golan said. “When I use these three technologies, it really makes me happy. That’s really what it all boils down to.”

The dual-wavelength WaterLase iPlus all-tissue laser is said to deliver more power, control and versatility for experienced laser dentists. Reportedly able to cut hard tissue twice as fast as current laser systems, without the discomfort or risk of cross contamination associated with conventional drills, iPlus creates an optimal bonding surface.

The unit also features an intuitive applications-based user interface with a large, high-resolution touch screen programmed with more than 50 factory-loaded procedure presets. The iPlus with the proprietary 2780 nm YSGG technology is available in a dual-wavelength configuration with an integrated iLase 940 nm diode laser, or as a stand-alone unit. The completely wireless iLase will enhance the capabilities of the YSGG by providing a diode laser that can be used for unexpected soft-tissue cases in an adjacent treatment room, better control of bleeding, and the freedom to move around with no foot pedals or cords.

Newly launched under the NewTom banner, the NewTom VG3 takes an image at every degree of rotation, 360° rotation = 360 images, increasing the range of possi­bilities for image manipulation. A revolutionary flat panel X-ray detector produces the clearest, sharpest images possible. NewTom VG3 features an adjustable Field of View, which allows the operator to irradiate just the right volume, depending on the required clinical application.

Featuring Ultrafast Optical Sectioning technology, TRIOS® uses up to 1,000 3D pictures to create geometries based on real data. The scanner captures more than 3,000 2D images per second and does not require dentists to apply spray to coat the patient’s teeth, making scanning fast, accurate and comfortable for patients.

Dentists can preview 3D lab designs on the TRIOS screen, evaluate and agree on mar­gin lines, access virtual diagnostic wax-ups and generally discuss cases with labs and patients when convenient.

How three technologies from Biolase-WaterLase iPlus, NewTom VGi and the 3Shape TRIOS-have positioned Golan Family Dentistry as a leading-edge practice that puts optimal patient care and comfort first.

How complete technology solutions have helped this practice succeed [VIDEO]

Are you using social media to promote your dental practice? If not, here are 5 reasons you should be.

Social media is a great way to connect with current and potential patients outside of your practice. Many of your patients are already on Twitter, Facebook and Google+, sharing and posting with their friends-so you should be there interacting and sharing practice updates, too.
	
	

Just finished a successful, complex cosmetic case? Share before-and-after photos on Facebook and tag the patient (with permission of course). Tweet about special promotions. Use social media as another marketing tool to get the word out about the great things you’re doing at your practice.

3. You can interact with your community on a different level

 Social media is all about engagement and connecting. It gives you the opportunity to share practice updates and photos, as well as interact with patients and community members. It also enables patients to share those updates with their friends and followers, expanding your reach.  


	
	Not only does social media put you in front of your patients outside of the office, it does it for free!
	
	


	
	If you’re serious about using social media to your advantage, someone has to manage it. A static Facebook page or Twitter account won’t do you much good. Assign social media management to someone in your office. It’s a great leadership opportunity for a team member who has an interest in marketing and patient engagement.  

Top 5 reasons dentists should get social

Dr. Adam Kimowitz tells us what this upgrade has meant for his patients and his practice.

Dr. Adam Kimowitz and the team at The Denville Dentist first began using 3D imaging in 2003, but at the time it was just too cost prohibitive to have their own in-practice unit.

Back then, they sent patients to imaging centers for scans. Not ideal, but it enabled them to get the information they needed for a variety of cases, from complex implant cases to endodontic procedures. They still weren’t quite ready for an in-office unit when they invested in the Planmeca ProMax 2D imaging system in 2007, but they knew it wouldn’t be long until they were.

Dr. Kimowitz wanted something that would grow with his practice, and he had that in the 2D system. He knew that when he was ready, he could upgrade the 2D unit to a 2D/3D unit without needing to buy expensive new equipment. That time came in 2010, when he found himself ordering more than two scans a week.

“We like to do things in our practice with the concept of modularity. We want to have things grow when we grow,” said Dr. Kimowitz, who practice with his dad, Dr. Hal Kimowitz. “We knew we’d want to upgrade to 3D but we didn’t know when.”  

Upgrading the ProMax was a smooth, easy process

, Dr. Kimowitz said. The unit was already in the practice, so all they needed to do was replace a 2D sensor with a 2D/3D sensor and install new software. Before this process, which took about three hours, the team spent some time discussing the network requirements to make sure they were ready for the switch. Once everything was installed, they were ready to start scanning in-office.

The team at The Denville Dentist already had some experience in 

, so that meant there wasn’t a lot of training that had to be done. The biggest challenge was making sure team members knew how to use and acquire images as well as position patients for the scan, Dr. Kimowitz said.

Team members were eager to learn how to use the upgraded unit and were excited to have this technology in-house for their patients, Dr. Kimowitz said.

And that type of staff buy-in is key no matter what technology you’re bringing to your practice.

“The staff was 100 percent open to it. One thing we do in our office is create a culture in our staff to keep things new and exciting, and to have them a part of any change we implement,” Dr. Kimowitz said. “That trickles down to our patients, too. If someone calls or has a question about it or implant dentistry, we tell them this is a must for us to really assess what their needs are.”

Dr. Kimowitz uses the ProMax for many cases to 

, and now that the practice has a unit in-house, patients don’t have to go somewhere else for those all-important scans.

But beyond that, Dr. Kimowitz and his team use the scans as an educational tool. They can bring scans up to really show patients what is going on in their mouths and to help explain what the best course of treatment might be. This truly helps make them partners in their care and really part of the process. And that makes them more likely to accept needed treatment.

“When I can bring a case up in front of a patient and explain to them what it is I see, not on my level but from an expert to novice standpoint, it makes them feel much safer and more OK about accepting dentistry,” he said. “And we can do this without having to say, ‘trust me, I’m a doctor and I know what I’m talking about.’ My main goal is to connect with my patients and not try to make them feel like I’m the guru. I’m going to give them all the information they need to make an educated decision. This allows me to do that from treatment planning to case presentation.”

The unit also has 2D imaging that includes the ability to take an extraoral bitewing, a great feature for patients who aren’t comfortable with traditional sensors. This feature is geared toward gaggers, geriatric patients and children, and enables clinicians to get the same diagnostic views they would with a traditional sensor.

If you’re not using 3D imaging in your practice yet, now is the time to make the change. Dentistry is constantly evolving, and you need to have the ability to treat diverse patient bases, to easily share information with other clinicians, and to make your practice as efficient as possible. This technology does that and so much more, and isn’t something you can afford to ignore.

If you’re not yet comfortable with the 3D world, talk to colleagues already using 3D imaging. Watch videos on YouTube. Take a few CE courses. And remember you don’t have to do it all at once. Start with a 2D system and add 3D imaging capabilities when you’re ready. Your patients and your bottom line will both thank you for it.

“This is one of those things I don’t know what I would do without, as far our treatment of patients,” Dr. Kimowitz said. “It will make your life and your patients’ lives better.”

Product Review: How one clinician upgraded his 2D Planmeca ProMax system to a 2D/3D system and what it meant for his practice

It all started about 12 years ago, when Dr. Stephen Abrams just wasn’t having a good week chairside. 

, and was beyond frustrated. He mentioned this frustration to a patient, Dr. Andreas Mandelis, who happened to be a physicist and thought he may have the solution. 

Using technology that imaged crystal structures and was already in use in the computer industry, they could develop a 

detection aid designed to spot cracks and caries

 not visible with the naked eye or on x-rays. 

That first conversation happened in 1999, and after much time, energy and research 

 was released to the marketplace in Canada in late 2011, and then the U.S. in December 2012. 

Here, Dr. Abrams shares the story behind the development process. 

 In the beginning it was providing the researchers with an understanding of the caries process and its impact upon the crystal structure of the tooth.  I also led the team in adapting the technology for application in oral health care, developing relationships with key researchers and developing the studies to validate the technology.

 What kind of feedback have you received from dentists using the system?

 It’s very interesting to see how everybody uses The Canary System. We developed a tool to detect caries and defects in crystal structure of the tooth.  

We find dentists are using Canary to run their remineralization preventive programs, allowing them to monitor the effects of a variety of remineralization agents.

The Canary monitors those outcomes and motivates patients to stay engaged in those programs. The patient is examined with The Canary System, and provided with a Canary Report summarizing the findings.

The patient returns to the office on a regular basis for an examination and if necessary an office application of various agents. This way the patients are engaged in the process, and with the Canary Reports they can monitor their progress.  

Dentists also are using The Canary System to look at defects in restorations, detect caries on all tooth surfaces and beneath dental sealants. 

In my clinical practice, I am finding things I never expected. Patients come in and report pain and we can’t see anything with a standard radiograph. Canary finds the cracks. Canary finds the decay.

 The core technology (PTR-LUM). The features around it enhance it, but the core technology is an accurate non-invasive way to detect change in crystal structure. If there’s a defect caused by tooth decay or a crack in the crystal structure,  Canary finds it. It tells you what’s wrong with the tooth structure. If you’re using  preventive therapy it tells you if you’re remineralizing that section of the tooth structure. 

 What’s the main benefit for the patient? 

 The Canary System gives patients a better understanding of caries because their diagnosis is quantified by a number. If their number is 50 and goes to 55, the lesion has gotten bigger. If it drops to 40 it’s getting better.

Instead of looking at x-rays and trying to figure out the black splotch on the film the dentists is looking at, they have a number that’s linked to crystal structure. 

 How does it make a dentist’s job easier? 

 It provides them with a diagnostic tool for caries. It provides them with a measure so they can see if their patients using various preventive therapies are getting better or worse, if  the lesions are getting bigger or smaller. It’s a non-invasive platform for caries detection that augments radiographs. 

And it’s not only good for detection of interproximal lesions, it has the ability to detect and monitor caries on occlusal surfaces, smooth surfaces, and around intact margins of restorations and beneath sealants. Margins may look intact, but Canary will pick up decay if there is any. That includes composite fillings, amalgams and dental sealants and new studies show the same is true for all-ceramic crowns. 

It’s what I call an evidence-based system-60 peer reviewed publications and growing. There’s a lot of good basic research to validate our claims. We won’t make a claim unless we’ve done the studies and involved external evaluations to validate that claim. Dentists know the claims we make are based on sound science.


	is a new dental device that uses a low-powered laser to detect tooth decay earlier, on all tooth surfaces, including between teeth, around the margins of restorations and beneath dental sealants, reportedly more accurately than existing caries detection technologies. The Canary System is a highly sensitive, painless, non-invasive detection tool (hardware and software) that allows dentists to detect tooth decay early enough to treat and heal, or to place a restoration earlier than otherwise, thus preventing more serious complications.

Behind the scenes look at The Canary System caries detection device

, the focus is on education. Dr. Robert Margeas and the rest of the team know how important it is to educate patients on their health care so they can make informed decisions about treatment and be true partners in their care.

“We just try to do what’s right for the patient,” Dr. Margeas said. “When a patient comes in and needs something, we offer them the service. If they want to do it, it’s their decision. It’s their mouth, it’s their time, it’s their money. We don’t want to talk anybody into having anything done that they don’t want to have done. We want to inform them and teach them about what’s going on in their mouth and let them ultimately make the final decision.”

That approach leads to high case acceptance and happy patients who want to come back to Iowa Dental Group, Dr. Margeas said. Patients are true partners in their health care and they know they’re going to receive the most minimally invasive treatment possible at a fair price.

They don’t have much of a problem with patients keeping their appointments either- patients know if they cancel, it might be a while before they can reschedule. Patients respect their appointment times and appreciate the care they receive.

Iowa Dental Group’s philosophy of care stems from Dr. Margeas’ previous partner, Dr. Paul Polydoran. Dr. Margeas bought Dr. Polydoran’s practice in 2001, merging the two practices together. Dr. Polydoran began practicing in 1961, and always focused on putting patients first, doing what was best for their oral health rather than worrying about how many crowns he placed in a day.

Dr. Polydoran passed away in 2007, but many of his patients have stayed loyal to Iowa Dental Group, the practice the doctors built together in 2003, for their dental care. About three and a half years ago, Dr. Brett Barber joined the practice.

He shares the same philosophy, and thinks it’s important to treat patients as you would want to be treated.

If you’re going to provide minimally invasive dentistry, you need to have the right product mix. As a lecturer, companies are always approaching Dr. Margeas about trying their products before they’re even released, and he’s always learning about new products at various dental meetings.

Before he’ll incorporate a product into his practice, it has to have the research to back up manufacturer claims. The product has to be something that is predictable and easy-to-use to help make the team more efficient.

The team at Iowa Dental Group has found this combination with many 

3M™ ESPE™ Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive

3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative

3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill Flowable Restorative.

“Patients know if a restoration looks good and feels good,” Dr. Barber said. “As long as we know we’re using superior products, we feel at ease knowing the restoration is going to last. I think patient satisfaction is a patient who can walk out with a smile and be eager to come back.”

Both Drs. Margeas and Barber have used 3M ESPE products for years, and Dr. Margeas has used several versions of what’s now Scotchbond Universal adhesive. When the latest version came out, Dr. Margeas looked to the research to decide if it was time to make a switch.

“When it comes to minimally invasive dentistry, you really need to have good adhesion and good products that are going to be long-lasting and easy to use,” he said. “When Scotchbond Universal adhesive came out, it was really a universal adhesive used for all indications including self-etch, total-etch or a selective-etch.

“So with those different abilities to use the product, I decided I was going to switch from the previous version to this based on not only the ease of use, but long-term clinical studies.”

Scotch bond Universal adhesive is easy to use and is fast, yet you still get the same results as you would with a multi-step system, Dr. Margeas said. Dr. Barber loves how easy the adhesive is to use, a key factor when making a product decision.

With the unit dose, the assistant pulls out the brush, he applies it and that’s it. Beyond that, patients don’t experience post-op sensitivity with Scotchbond Universal adhesive like they might with other adhesives, Dr. Barber said.

Patients don’t complain about it, and that tells both doctors that it’s doing what it’s meant to do-completely sealing the restoration for years of stability.

“The fact that they don’t have sensitivity and problems with the restorations means it’s working,” Dr. Barber said. “When you’re doing something clinically, you always think it’s working but there’s always a chance that the bond or the etch is inadequate, something microscopic that you would certainly never see until later when the patient is having problems.

"This does not happen with Scotchbond Universal adhesive.”

Dr. Barber has come to depend on 3M ESPE’s Filtek products over the years, and loves both Filtek Supreme Ultra universal restorative and Filtek Bulk Fill flowable restorative because they’re easy to use, predictable and offer a chameleon-like effect that leaves restorations undetectable.

Additionally, because of the excellent handling and simple shading system, both products have lent themselves to a more productive staff and efficient practice over time.

Both doctors use Filtek Supreme Ultra universal restorative in the posterior and the anterior, and Dr. Margeas likes the strength of the composite and the fact that it comes in various shades. He also loves the polishability and the excellent handling it offers.

“It’s got dentin shades, body shades, enamel shades. It delivers universal options for creating easy, natural-looking, one-shade restorations when I want that option,” Dr. Margeas said. “So if you’re doing a complex anterior restoration, you can cover all those areas with the different types of composite. I want to be able to have that versatility.”

Filtek Bulk Fill flowable restorative is made for deep restorations that need light cures at a certain thickness, Dr. Margeas said. You can place it in deeper increments, light cure and cover the top of it with Filtek Supreme Ultra universal restorative. Using both products for these types of restorations improves efficiency and provides strength, polishability and better wear. And that, of course, leads to happy patients.

“The strength and simplicity of both products are what make them such great materials. If I couldn’t work with them properly, I wouldn’t use them,” Dr. Barber said. “I’ve placed these products and they’re still in their mouths years later, they’re still chewing on them and they’re still happy with them. So that of course parlays into a happy practice. When you have a patient base that keeps coming back, then it’s a successful practice.”

Both Drs. Margeas and Barber feel good about using 3M ESPE products in their practice.

They’re proud to treat patients with high-quality products from a company they trust. Patients trust them to use the best products possible for the best possible care, and 3M ESPE has made that possible for these dentists for many years.

“Doing the right thing for the patient is best, and happiness is the key to success,” Dr. Margeas said. “Success is not the key to happiness. If you’re happy, you’ll be successful and we’ve followed that over the last 30 years, almost from when I started dental school. I come to work like it’s a hobby. And so, I really think that it’s better to spend a little bit more money on products that are tried and true.

“3M ESPE has been a great company to be associated with, and I don’t feel guilty recommending those products because of what they stand for.”

Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive is an adhesive for both total-etch and self-etch applications. It offers one simple adhesive application technique for both direct and indirect indications and bonds to all surfaces including enamel, dentin, glass ceramic, zirconia, noble and non-precious alloys, and composites-without additional primer. The flip top vial and unit dose delivery make it easy to use.

Filtek Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative

Front to back, Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative is the name more dentists trust for all their anterior and posterior needs. Filtek Supreme Ultra universal restorative delivers an expanded range of body shades for more universal options when creating easy, natural-looking, one-shade restorations while maintaining the composite’s versatility for dual or multi-layering techniques. As the first and only composite system to incorporate true nanotechnology, the Filtek Supreme line provides the polish and polish retention of a microfill, while maintaining the strength and wear properties of a modern hybrid.

3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill Flowable Restorative is a bulk fill flowable that dentists can trust because of its high strength and wear resistance.

Recommended for bulk fill liner/base applications, Filtek Bulk Fill composite helps dentists save time and steps. Its flowable viscosity provides good adaptation, and its 4 mm depth of cure reduces the need to incrementally layer restorative material. It also offers better wear resistance than other leading bulk fill flowables, while maintaining low stress and shrinkage. Most importantly, Filtek Bulk Fill flowable restorative offers higher compressive and diametral tensile strength than competitors, so dentists can feel confident placing it as a bulk fill composite.

Filtek Bulk Fill flowable is easy to use with both capsule and syringe delivery options and is available in four shades-Universal, A1, A2 and A3. The capsules, syringe tips and plungers are designed in a bright orange color for easy and quick identification in the operatory.

At Iowa Dental Group, the focus is on education. Dr. Robert Margeas and the rest of the team know how important it is to educate patients on their health care so they can make informed decisions about treatment and be true partners in their care.

How this dental practice makes sure patients and staff are true partners in oral healthcare [VIDEO]

When working on a Class II case, there are plenty of challenges that can keep you from achieving that desired result, challenges that range from contamination in the restorative field because you didn’t have the proper isolation to a weak bond that causes the patient post-op sensitivity when he or she leaves your office. 

To help dentists get past the many frustrations that can come with Class II cases, DENTSPLY Caulk has put together a Class II solution featuring five products-the Palodent

 Plus Sectional Matrix System to offer optimal isolation and allow clinicians to seal in and shape the Class II restoration quickly and effectively; Prime & Bond Elect

  Universal Dental Adhesive to enable dentists to choose among total-etch, self-etch and selective-etch modes to improve enamel bonding and post-op sensitivity; SureFil

, a low stress bulk fill flowable base material that provides excellent cavity adaptation, reduces polymerization shrinkage stress by up to 60 percent and allows for a 4 mm bulk fill; TPH Spectra

 Universal Composite Restorative, which is available in a high and low viscosity to enable dentists to select the handling they prefer;  and the Enhance

  Finishing System, which allows for easy contouring and ensures a long- term, esthetic and durable result for the patient while saving both dentist and patient time chairside. 

“It’s about simplicity and predictability. The system is designed to attack the most vulnerable interface of the Class II, which is the floor of the proximal box,” said Dr. Nick Conte, Director of Clinical Research and Education at DENTSPLY Caulk. “The surface that most likely generates recurrent decay is the floor of the proximal box. By providing a combination of products, we’re achieving a better interface and a more durable restoration.” 

DENTSPLY Caulk is the first manufacturer to put a system like this together, Dr. Conte said, with established products that are proven to provide high-quality results. They are meant to work together as a dependable system to help dentists provide optimal Class II restorations every time.

“Every step of a Class II procedure determines how successful you are with the next step,” he said. “Without good isolation a good adhesive product won’t matter and so on. So we put everything together into one package for the doctor.”

Adding these products to your practice is easy, Dr. Conte said-just switch out what you’re currently using for the products in this solution. 

“This will minimize their inventory because it consolidates the number of adhesive products they need,” Dr. Conte said. “Most dentists use two or more adhesive products because they want self-etching and total-etching options. This streamlines their inventory, allows for better four-handed dentistry and better communication between the assistant and the dentist.”

As a trusted company in the industry, DENTSPLY Caulk has put together a Class II solution designed to save you time and improve results for your patients. Eliminating some of the common problems that come up during Class II procedures, from abrading adjacent teeth to open contacts, this solution will help make you more efficient and give your patients optimal results. 

“The products are designed to work together to provide a simple and dependable result improving office efficiency and overall patient outcome,” Dr. Conte said. “Because SureFil SDR 

 is a bulk fill you save time during placement. TPH Spectra allows for easy shade selection and tooth matching. And the adhesive system allows you to work through quadrant based dentistry, treating each tooth with the best etching technique to provide the most predictable outcome.”

You want your Class II restorations to last. You want predictable results and durable restorations both you and your patients can feel good about. 

How to perform easy, predictable Class II procedures with DENTSPLY Caulk's Class II solution

Dr. Barry Sautter needed a sterilization area in his new practice, and he knew he wanted something he could proudly display, a piece of equipment that would let patients know his practice takes the necessary steps to eliminate cross contamination- something many patients worry about after seeing stories of 

After looking at other options, he decided 

Pelton & Crane’s Solaris Dental Sterilization Center

 was the best fit for his practice. Nearly three years later, he couldn’t be happier with that decision. 

Its simplicity and its sleek, modern design. In the past sterilization equipment looked archaic and was an area that was considered dirty or contaminated. The functionality and design of this unit makes it appealing-I have it showcased in my practice. I don’t have it tucked away or behind closed doors. Patients can see the unit and know it’s where we process and sterilize instruments. 

Patients think it’s pretty neat. It’s something most patients haven’t seen, but it’s not something that’s intimidating or scary. There’s a lot of what I call the Wizard of Oz effect. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that patients don’t know about but they assume is taken care of. 

They appreciate the openness we have at our practice by showing them how infection control works

. It’s reassuring and it helps you build a relationship and trust with your patients. 

The efficiency and stability. In a practice’s daily routine you have lots of turnover-not only of patients but also of the equipment that’s used during procedures. So when you have a system like this it streamlines the sterilization process and helps keep our costs to a minimum. 

It’s also an attractive piece of furniture that’s customizable. That’s a feature that’s built into this product. You have different ways in which you can configure it. You can add bells and whistles or get the bare basics. If your needs change later, you can modify the Solaris. You also can pick the different laminates and different countertops. 

Why would you encourage other dentists to use Solaris?

It’s an important part of any dental practice. You have to have good protocols in place to make sure you lower the chance and risk for cross contamination. Infection control is pretty important in our profession, and this makes it easier. It has segmented compartments to decontaminate, prepare, sterilize and store. Those four functions make it efficient and it really helps streamline a process that is part of every dental practice.   

Dr. Barry Sautter on Pelton & Crane Solaris

Dr. Barry Sautter needed a sterilization area in his new practice, and he knew he wanted something he could proudly display, a piece of equipment that would let patients know his practice takes the necessary steps to eliminate cross contamination- something many patients worry about after seeing stories of infection control breaches in the news. 

Product Review: Why this dentist gives Pelton & Crane’s Solaris Dental Sterilization Center high marks

Find out why this new option for portable intraoral scanning in color is a must-have for your practice.

, this digital impression system helps dentists to distinguish between teeth, gingiva, restorative materials, and easily identify true preparation margins while also enhancing the scanning experience.  