Unique System Ideal for Timely, Precise Scannable Impressions
For clinicians who are not yet ready to invest in a digital impressioning system, a “transitioning option with very little initial investment” is available in the form of DENTSPLY Caulk’s Aquasil Ultra Cordless Tissue Managing Impression System, says Nicholas Conte, DMD, MBA.
Conte, who is Director of Clinical Research and Education at DENTSPLY Caulk, says the system is designed to time-efficiently provide precision placement of impression material and achieve the objective of retraction—ie, creating enough width and volume for the impression material. This is done mainly through its delivery method, a pneumatic handpiece with the same familiar finger rests and hand positioning found in a typical dental handpiece.
The Aquasil Ultra Cordless Tissue Managing Impression System, he adds, offers an improved way to take traditional impressions that can easily be scanned for conversion into a digital-based solution primarily by solving some of the four-handed timing challenges associated with traditional polyvinyl materials.
“Traditionally, getting the timing right between the delivery of the materials is not easy. You have not only the tray to fill but must determine how to dispense the wash material—whether in a backfilled syringe or by placement via an intraoral mix tip out of a 50-mL gun,” Conte explains.
Noting that “violating work time is the most common cause of pulls and drags and other impression errors,” he maintains that the Aquasil system “reduces the number of steps and hands that are involved in the procedure.” This enables the clinician to seat the impression well within its true work time to avoid issues related to viscosity, which, he says, “continues to ramp while the chemistry is advancing through time.”
Further, Conte says, an added benefit of the system, designed for use with Aquasil Ultra Smart Wetting Impression Material, is that it contains a high level of the titanium dioxide laboratories would otherwise need to spray on the impression prior to scanning. “Therefore, the impressions don’t need any special treatment from the laboratory to be able to make digital copings or digital crown solutions,” he asserts.
According to Conte, clinicians can scale the short learning curve associated with the new impression-taking technique to receive maximum benefits with plenty of help from the manufacturer. “There are a number of online training videos, but first and foremost, it’s our field sales reps, who are capable of conducting office demonstrations and discussing office integration solutions with the clinician. On top of that, we have a customer service department that the clinician can call about any technique-related questions.”
Conte believes the current price point of digital impression systems in particular is what remains a deterrent to their widespread adoption and, therefore, does not expect this to occur for some years to come. “I think the growth in the digital segment is surprisingly low, considering how good some of that technology is,” he says.
What Conte does anticipate, however, is a desire among clinicians to stock options in materials with fewer viscosities and varying set times, a demand DENTSPLY Caulk is poised to meet through expansion of the Aquasil Cordless portfolio. “We’ll continue to develop this line to provide more choices for clinicians because, while the solution we offer addresses the large majority of clinical applications, there are still issues that no single solution can resolve,” he suggests.
Conte calls DENTSPLY Caulk’s Aquasil Ultra Cordless Tissue Managing Impression System a change in technique, not a change in impression material. “This is a simpler and more predictable alternative to cumbersome traditional methods that may also be unpleasant for patients who find the cord retraction placement in particular especially uncomfortable. The goal is to make impression-taking more accurate and reliable, so there are fewer retakes and remakes.” As a result, he says, all involved—clinician, patient, and laboratory—benefit from both the procedure and its outcome.
DENTSPLY Caulk
38 West Clarke Ave
Milford, DE 19963
800-532-2855
