One clinician explains how 3 products from W&H enable him to confidently redefine and elevate the standard of care in surgical dentistry, which in turn benefits both clinicians and patients.
As a clinician in a surgical general practice, my top priority has always been the search for reliable dental instruments that optimize my efficiency. I believe you’ll agree—there’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with handpieces that lack the necessary power and torque to cleanly section through a tooth. Stalling burs and chattering handpieces are enough for us all to pull our hair out.
Having dependable dental equipment is not just a matter of speed and convenience; it is a necessity that directly impacts my patient care. With this in mind, I would like to highlight 3 essential tools that have formed the cornerstone of my practice.
Piezomed module
The Piezomed module is an easy add-on solution for the Implantmed Plus that creates new treatment options for patients. The Piezomed is said to be a true game changer in piezo surgery. Its modular design is said to allow the device to be adapted to the user’s specific requirements across specialties, including periodontal, oral surgery, and dental implant surgery. It is designed to simplify the processes in oral surgery and implantology, as users do not always have the correct device on hand for use in compact spaces. The modular system’s standardized operation simplifies the practice’s daily workflow.
First, the W&H Implantmed Plus Motor System. To call the Implantmed Plus unit just a surgical motor is an understatement: I like to think of it as more of a surgical ecosystem. I use the W&H Implantmed Plus system (Figure 1) for all my everyday oral surgery procedures—from dental implant placement to impacted third molar removal.
The added flexibility of connection to the new Piezomed Plus module from W&H allows the use of surgical piezo procedures to perform sinus lifts, ridge splits, and atraumatic extractions. The Implantmed Plus motor combines incredible power with a simple, intuitive, and user-friendly interface that I can depend on for efficiency in my surgical procedures.
Further, after dental implant surgeries are completed, we can wirelessly connect the Osstell Beacon tool to the Implantmed Plus to assess the implant stability quotient post surgery and then again prior to delivering the final restoration. Through the modular components of the W&H system, we minimize the overall counter space necessary to perform many procedures in an already crowded surgical operatory. Short of physically extracting a tooth, there isn’t much that the Implantmed Plus can’t do for me.
Second, the W&H WS-91 surgical handpiece. This surgical electric handpiece (Figure 2) with a 45-degree head connects to the W&H Implantmed Plus motor and supports you with precise and smooth sectioning of all teeth. When I say smooth, I mean no chatter, no stalling bur—just crisp, clean sections. This handpiece is my go-to, everyday extraction hero.
With a gear ratio of 1:2.7, I set the Implantmed motor to 40,000 rpm, which allows for up to 108,000 rpm at the bur. I prefer the WS-91 over other handpieces due to its smaller head, bright LED system, and precise sterile saline spray to keep the site cool and my bur clean. I highly recommend this handpiece to dentists who do any level of surgical extractions.
Lastly, the tool I can’t live without, the W&H S-16 surgical handpiece. I unofficially label it the Third Molar Handpiece. In my opinion, this is a must-have handpiece for any dentist who tackles wisdom tooth extractions.
As you know, when you approach deeper impactions or horizontally positioned third molars, you always wish your bur was just a little longer. This is where the S-16 handpiece (Figure 3) truly shines. With the perfect 20-degree angle for tackling impacted third molars, a 1:2 gear ratio that allows you to section teeth at up to 80,000 rpm, and incredible torque at full speed, I feel confident sectioning furcations and removing bone around wisdom teeth.
Combined with my favorite bur, the 1703 HP bur (45 mm), the S-16 allows me to provide my patients with efficient extractions of impacted third molars. One of the biggest advantages of the W&H S-16 and WS-91 is that they are fully dismantlable into several individual parts for proper cleaning and then sterilization of the handpiece. This feature increases the life span of the handpiece while also ensuring complete removal of any bio burden within it.
In conclusion, the W&H Implantmed Plus and WS-91 and S-16 handpieces provide me with the confidence to continually redefine and elevate the standard of care in surgical dentistry, ultimately benefiting both clinicians and patients alike.
Download Issue: Dental Products Report March 2024
