today Pacific Dental Conference 8 March

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Pacific Dental Conference · March 8, 2013

Official Meeting News · Vol. 4, No. 2

More ‘Live Dentistry’
on stage today

Remove pain from
your job description

The Live Dentistry
stage in the Exhibit Hall
remains active today,
with three more sessions
on the schedule.

Today and Saturday:
Bethany Valachi shows
you how to avoid or
overcome work-related
discomfort or injury.

Thursday’s Exhibit Hall
and education sessions
generated nonstop traffic
throughout the day. Here
are a few highlights captured on camera.

»page 2

»page 3

»pages 4 & 5

Get a ‘closer’ look

Scenes from the PDC

Go macro
or micro,
it’s all here
By Robin Goodman,
‘today’ Group Editor
 Vancouver’s overcast skies could not
dampen the enthusiasm among those
within the more than 570 booths at the
Pacific Dental Conference Exhibit Hall.
The hall is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. today, so there’s still time to check
out the highlights mentioned below.
For a blast of psuedo sunshine in the
form of some bright yellow button-down
shirts, head over to the Sinclair Dental
booth (No. 727). You can also get a free
tooth-whitening treatment if you have a

Silhouetted against a video-screen wall in the BIOLASE booth (No. 943), Dr. Brad Labrecque answers questions following his
presentation. (Photo/Robin Goodman, ‘today’ staff)
5

see CLOSER, page 2

Tonight: Fun with Dr. Strangelove
 Tonight’s “Friday Night Social” features the return of a Pacific Dental Conference favorite: the Dr. Strangelove danceparty band. Mention the words “party
band” in Vancouver and more than likely
“Dr. Strangelove” will come up
The group has performed before thousands of music lovers in the Vancouver
area over the years and is known for the
fun, energetic atmosphere it creates.
If you didn’t buy a $15 ticket when
you registered, you should still be able
to buy tickets at the registration desks.
The entertainments starts at 6:45 p.m.

and runs to 10 p.m., in Ballroom D in the
Vancouver Convention Centre.
Dr. Strangelove also is known for its
stage antics, theme-based costumes and
ability to sound exactly like the artists it
covers. That’s why it’s been able to enjoy
so much success and become one of
Vancouver’s most sought-after musical
attractions.
Also at the registration desk, tickets
should still be available ($15) for tomorrow’s breakfast with stand-up comedian
Brent Butt, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Ballroom A, Vancouver Convention Centre.

On stage tonight, ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ one of Vancouver’s most popular
musical attractions. (Photo/Provided by Dr. Strangelove)
5

[2] =>

xxx xxx
event
news

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2

Pacific
PacificDental
DentalConference
Conference—
—March
Marchxx,
8, 2013
2012

Expect standing-room only at the
Exhibit Hall’s Live Dentistry Stage
 The sessions on the Exhibit Hall’s
Live Dentistry Stage yesterday
attracted standing-room crowds. And
that will likely be the case today, with
three more clinicians scheduled. Get
there early to get a seat close to the stage
for that “big screen movie theatre”
experience. Microphones are scattered
throughout the aisles so lecturers can
answer questions after the session.
Ron Zokol, DMD, is the clinician
on stage at 8:30 a.m. with the “Guided
Full Arch Implant Placement,” co-sponsored by Pacific Implant Institute and
Nobel Biocare Canada.
Vancouver dentist Ernst ‘Ernie’
Schmidt follows Zokol at 11:30 a.m.,
with “CAD/CAM Ceramic Restoration,”
co-sponsored by Patterson Dental.
Closing the Live Dentistry program,
is Haneef Alibhai, BSc, MD, CM, CCFP,
FCFP, with “Botox Demonstration” at 3
p.m., co-sponsored by “md cosmetic &
laser training.”

About
the Publisher

Tribune America, LLC
Phone: (212) 244-7181
Fax: (212) 244-7185
E-mail: info@dental-tribune.com
www.dental-tribune.com
Publisher & Chairman
Torsten Oemus
t.oemus@dental-tribune.com
Chief Operating Officer
Eric Seid
e.seid@dental-tribune.com
Group Editor
Robin Goodman
r.goodman@dental-tribune.com
Managing Editor/Designer
Robert Selleck
r.selleck@dental-tribune.com
Editor/Designer U.S. Show Dailies
Kristine Colker
k.colker@dental-tribune.com
Editor/Designer
Sierra Rendon
s.rendon@dental-tribune.com

Dr. Mark Kwon performs an ‘Implant with Sinus Surgery’ as Dr. Bernard Jin
(standing at left) provides commentary during the procedure, on stage at the Live
Dentistry Arena in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday.
5

Online Editor
Fred Michmershuizen
f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com
Product/Account Manager Canada
Will Kenyon
w.kenyon@dental-tribune.com

CLOSER from page 1

Product/Account Manager
Humberto Estrada
h.estrada@dental-tribune.com

little extra time. On Thursday they were
passing out yellow roses, so perhaps
they will today too?
Over at the Beutlich Pharmaceuticals booth (No. 221), pick up a HurriPak,
a starter kit of periodontal anaesthetic
featuring HurriCaine. It comes with
two flavours of this topical anaesthesia
liquid — wild cherry and Piña Colada —
12 disposable perio irrigation tips, 12
disposable irrigation syringes and two
HurriCaine Leur-Lock dispensing caps.
If you need advice from a grafting expert, visit the Citagenix booth
(Nos. 119, 220). The company offers bone
grafting products, membranes, specialized dental instruments and more. Stop
by the booth to learn about the many
show specials.
Cleardent’s booth design (No. 443) is
difficult to resist. The large low table and
many big-screen monitors allow you to
test out software that will allow your
office to go paperless.
Our favourite gadget on the show
floor is the new ‘cinemizer OLED’ by
Zeiss, found at the National Dental
Inc. booth (No. 1419). Some 75 percent
of adult patients suffer from varying
degrees of anxiety at the dentist. Cinemizer OLED multimedia video glasses can
help reduce patient anxiety with 2-D or
3-D movies, TV shows or other relaxing
videos.
There is plenty to see in the Exhibit
Hall, so make sure you leave enough
time for a leisurely stroll that allows
you to check out companies you may not
already be familiar with.

Product/Account Manager
Mara Zimmerman
m.zimmerman@dental-tribune.com
Product/Account Manager
Charles Serra
c.serra@dental-tribune.com

Need a website? Online appointment
system? Nadeem Kassam, from left,
Nasheel Kassam and Charlie Bern have
show specials at ‘connect the doc,’ of
Vancouver (booth No. 1243). (Photos/
Robin Goodman, ‘today’ staff)


Marketing Director
Anna Kataoka-Wlodarczyk
a.wlodarczyk@dental-tribune.com
Education Director
Christiane Ferret
c.ferret@dtstudyclub.com
Published by Dental Tribune America
© 2013 Tribune America, LLC
All rights reserved.

Rob Precious of ‘quickmobile’ displays the PDC Program app the company created for smartphones and iPad.
5

Barbara Bancroft lectures to a full
house about ‘Pharmacology: Simplify,
Don’t Mystify.’
5

PDC mobile app

Scan this QR code to access
the app, or download from
your app store by searching
“Pacific Dental Conference.”

Adele Fussi and Frank Loggia hold an
implant prop at the MIS Implants booth
(No. 201).
5

today Pacific Dental Conference
appears during the Pacific Dental
Conference in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada, March 7 and 8,
2013.

Tribune America makes every
effort to report clinical information and
manufacturers’ product news
accurately, but cannot assume
responsibility for the validity of product
claims, or for typographical errors.
The publishers also do not assume
responsibility for product names
or claims, or statements made by
advertisers. Opinions expressed by
authors are their own and may not
reflect those of Tribune America or
Tribune Group International.

[3] =>

3xx

speakers
xxx

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8,
10,2013
2011

Don’t let pain end
your career

There are simple strategies
dentists and hygienists can embrace
to keep dental careers pain free,
such as working in the ‘12:00’
position shown here. Learn others
at Bethany Valachi’s PDC sessions.
(Photos/Provided
by Bethany Valachi)


 Are your aches and pains progressing to a point that you’re wondering
if your days as a dentist, hygienist or
assistant might be ending sooner than
you had planned? Or maybe you’re just
getting hints, especially at the end of the
day, that with a few more years of this,
things might start getting tricky?
It doesn’t have to be that way, according to Bethany Valachi, a physical therapist, dental ergonomic consultant and
author of Practice Dentistry Pain-Free.
Valachi speaks today and Saturday on
two ergonomics-related topics, with the
goal of making sure you’re not slowly
destroying your ability to work.
Valachi runs a company that provides research-based dental ergonomic
education, and she is an instructor of
ergonomics at Oregon Health Sciences
University School of Dentistry in Portland, Ore. She lectures internationally
and has published more than 50 articles
in dental journals worldwide.
She answered questions from Dental Tribune about what attendees can
expect from her two PDC presentations,
“Neck, Back & Beyond: Preventing Pain
for Peak Performance” and “Fitness 101
for Dental Professionals: Secrets for
Comfort & Career Longevity.”
Why is this education important?
Two out of three dental professionals
report occupational pain, which if left
unaddressed can lead to injury or early
retirement. In fact, one-third of dentists
who retire early are forced to, due to a
musculoskeletal injury.
Unfortunately, most team members think that work-related pain is
an unavoidable consequence of their
careers. Not so! With current, researchbased interventions, most team members can effectively reduce or eliminate
their discomfort.
If somebody is able to attend only one of
your two decisions, how would you help
them decide?
Because most pain and injuries in dentistry originate from poor operatory
ergonomics, I would recommend “Neck,
Back & Beyond: Preventing Pain for Peak
Productivity,” which focuses on proper
ergonomics in the operatory.
I have seen too many dentists and
hygienists spend a plethora of money on

Attend today’s session!

▲
▲

One-third of dentists who retire early were forced to because of musculoskeletal injury

Bethany Valachi, PT, MS, CEAS, presents “Neck, Back & Beyond: Preventing Pain for
Peak Productivity,” today, 1:30–4 p.m. in Pacific Rim — Star Sapphire A/B). (Fairmont
Pacific Rim Hotel is across from Vancouver Convention Centre West).
Tomorrow, Valachi presents “Fitness 101 for Dental Professionals: Secrets for Comfort &
Career Longevity,” 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 306 in the Convention Centre.

Bethany
Valachi
5

Valachi is CEO of Posturedontics, a company that provides researchbased dental ergonomic education. She also is a clinical instructor
of ergonomics at Oregon Health Sciences University School of
Dentistry in Portland, Ore. She is the author of “Practice Dentistry
Pain-Free: Evidence-based Strategies to Prevent Pain
and Extend Your Career,” which is available through
www.posturedontics.com or by calling (503) 291-5121.
She welcomes comments and may be reached by
email at bethany@posturedontics.com.

Bethany Valachi,
a physical
therapist and
dental ergonomic
consultant, lectures
internationally
at dental
meetings, schools,
associations
and study clubs.
(Photos/Provided by
Bethany Valachi)


chiropractors, exercise programs, etc.,
only to return to the scenario (the dental
operatory) that created the problem in
the first place.
How does this lecture differ from other
ergonomic and wellness lectures?
First, it’s research-based ... and fun. You
won’t hear hand-me-down education in
this lecture. What you will learn are
the newest dental ergonomic and wellness interventions based on the latest

research in dental ergonomics, kinesiology, seated biomechanics, exercise
physiology, neck and back pain and
much more.
Team members often comment, “I
wish I had learned these techniques 20
years ago” or, “You’ve saved my dental
career.” These are effective, practical
and easy-to-apply concepts in the dental
operatory and at home.
Second, it’s specific. Dentistry is a
unique occupation with highly spe-

cialized equipment, treatment, positions and room layouts. To develop
effective ergonomic interventions, one
must understand how the movements
in the operatory and
equipment adjustment
impact the operator’s
musculoskeletal health.
This involves analyzing
countless hours of video
including movement
in the dental operatory
and then cross-referencing these with diagrams of self-reported
pain. These lectures are
the result of 14 years of
this type of analysis in
dental operatories and
at the dental school.
Third, I present
effective interventions.
I believe that the reason for the high
prevalence of work-related pain in dentistry is due to dental ergonomic education that does not identify the etiologies
of the problem — but instead takes a
shotgun approach. In this seminar, I
identify the etiologies of work-related
pain in dentistry, and every intervention
in the seminar is targeted at these microtrauma. Isn’t that exactly what dentists
do with their patients?
Fourth, it’s unbiased. Much of today’s
dental ergonomic education is sponsor
driven, leading to costly investment in
equipment that may not always be the
best for your musculoskeletal health. A
cornerstone of my education is that it is
unbiased and research-based.
Are ergonomic needs of dentists and
hygienists different?
Yes! Because of their very different
hand movements, tasks, movement in
the operatory and patient-positioning
needs, dentists and hygienists are prone
to slightly different musculoskeletal
see PAIN, page 5

[4] =>

scrapbook

4

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8, 2013

Scenes from Thursday

Barbara Cox at the Hands-On Training
Institute booth (No. 552).


Hygienist
Allison
Ransier, left,
and dental
assistant
Marianne
Beckett
stopped to
map out
their plans
for the day.


5

It’s a bright shiny day at the Sinclair Dental booth (No. 727) where team members are handing out yellow roses.

PDC staff
member
Kristie Ritter
at registration
with daisies
chosen to
match the
colour of this
year’s PDC
theme.


Jennifer
Murphy,
Chadi Saade
and Sara Jean
Louis, at the
Dental Savings
Club booth
(No. 1329).


5

Jim Ball discusses technical details at the Instrumentarium booth (No. 1247).

Donny Chan and Esah Yip at the
Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion
Council booth (No. 345).
5

Photos by
Robin Goodman,
‘today’ staff
Arlene MacKinnon flashes a smile at the Shofu booth (No. 1430) while Dan Christensen (brown jacket) discusses product details with booth visitors.
5

The GSK booth (No. 835) with a lively
crowd of visitors on Thursday.
5

[5] =>

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8,
10,2013
2011

scrapbook
xxx

5
Start your day
with a bite, by
picking up a
delicious Canadian apple at
the ‘Bite Me!’
apple kiosk,
located on the
second floor of
the convention
center as you
make your way
to the registration desks.
5

Shahram Shajirat
helps a potential
client at the David
Mitchell Co. Ltd.
booth (No. 347).
The general contractor company
builds dental and
medical spaces.


Matt Robson (in foreground) at
the Patterson Dental booth (No. 419)
listens intently as a visitor describes
the storage space options her office
requires.
5

Neil Magneson at the National
Dental Inc. booth (No. 1419) holds the
‘cinemizer OLED’ by Zeiss — multimedia
video glasses that reduce patient
anxiety.

Tyson Popowich, left, and Brad
Rand at the Implant Direct Sybron
International booth (No. 1322).
5

Jim Delaney at the Beutlich
Pharmaceuticals booth (No. 221) in a
brief moment between visitors.
5

PAIN

from page 3

stressors and require different equipment and recommendations. Certain
armrests, delivery systems, operatory
layouts, HVE options, patient positioning techniques and exercises are
more appropriate for hygienists than
dentists and vice-versa.
Are you seeing any new trends in ergonomic problems in dentistry?
Yes. Recently I have seen an increase in
two problems. First, in both my in-office
consultations and at the dental school,
I have seen an increase in the percentage of dental professionals and students with neck/back pain that is likely
related to the use of non-ergonomic
dental loupes. Most dentists and hygienists do not realize that loupes with poor
declination angles can actually create
or worsen pain. In Friday’s (Neck, Back
& Beyond) seminar, I will discuss the
three criteria for selecting loupes that
will improve your health, not make it
worse.
Second, dental professionals are
prone to unique muscle imbalances and
require specific exercise guidelines to
prevent worsening of these imbalances
and being thrown into the ‘vicious pain
cycle’.
Recently, I have seen more and more
team members seek the advice of personal trainers [with little experience]

This clinician and his staff had a
rendezvous near the bag pick-up area
before they went their separate ways
for the day’s education.
5

Caroline Therrien, from left, Rob Gochoel and Denise Kusinski at the NSK booth
(No. 109).
5

who give them the same routine they
give everyone else; or they buy exercise DVDs designed for the general
public. This can worsen their unique
imbalances and create more pain. In
Saturday’s (Fitness 101) seminar, I
will be teaching an exercise program
that I developed specifically to correct the painful muscle imbalances of
dental professionals, based on current
research.
What are dental professionals doing
wrong when trying to manage their
pain?
From a show of hands at my seminars, I
calculate that at least 40 percent of team
members have been to, or currently go
to, the chiropractor. In the Fitness 101
seminar, we will review the etiologies
of work-related pain in dentistry and
take a careful look at which health-care
professionals may be best suited to treat
specific pain syndromes (i.e. trigger
points, shoulder/arm pain, hand pain,
postural asymmetries, trapezius myalgia, back pain, etc.).
Many attendees have not heard of
some of these specialists. Guess what?
It’s usually not a chiropractor. Therapies
aimed at immediate relief usually provide temporary results.
What’s a typical ergonomics problem an
average practice can easily addressed?
In consultations, I consistently see

one primary ergonomic problem that
doesn’t cost a penny to resolve: Access
in the 12:00 position. Obtaining easy
access in the 12:00 position is critical
to the long-term health of dentists and
hygienists. Dental chairs often are
installed with only 14-inch or so clearance between the end of the headrest
(when reclined) and a fixed counter,
forcing the operator to work in the
10:00 position, which is extremely hard
on the body. The industry standard is
20–22 inches of clearance in the 12:00
position. To resolve this, a choice of two
strategies may be used:
1) Move the patient chair toward the
foot of the patient. This might be limited
by an electrical box or plug. (You’ll
need two or three strong helpers) If you
are unable to gain the desired 12:00
clearance, you may combine this with
Strategy No. 2:
2) Rotate the patient chair 20 degrees
or so to gain access in the 12:00 position.
There is usually a kick lever at the bottom of the chair that allows rotation of
the chair.
How important are ergonomic/fitness
habits away from the practice in supporting optimum health at work?
Extremely important. A combination of
aerobic, flexibility and strengthening
should be addressed. While most dental
professionals realize that they should
target the “stabilizing” or “postural”

muscles in an exercise routine, most
don’t realize that how they strengthen
them is just as critical. In the Fitness 101
program, I will introduce the supportive
research for the technique of muscular
endurance training for dental professionals, as well as an exercise routine.
Also, because of their predisposition
to unique muscle imbalances, certain
exercises that dental professionals
think are targeting the “correct” muscles simultaneously engage the tight,
short and ischemic muscles that should
not be strengthened.
Generic exercise routines, such as
Pilates, need to be modified specifically
for dental professionals to prevent the
possibility of worsening of imbalances
in the neck/shoulder.
We will also discuss which exercises
and gym machines can actually worsen
your health.
What’s the main thing you want
attendees take away from your
sessions?
Pain is not a necessary by-product
of dentistry. With current, accurate
research-based interventions, most
team members can learn to prevent,
manage and reduce work-related discomfort or injury.
Dozens of dental professionals have
emailed me after these lectures and
informed me that they are either painfree or significantly improved!

[6] =>

exhibitors

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8, 2013

Handpiece manufacturer NSK
aiming for global leadership
80 percent of revenues are generated outside of Japan
By Dental Tribune Asia Pacific
 It is no secret that the years since
the global financial crisis have not been
kind to companies in Japan. First, the
recession slowed business investments
significantly, then the effects of the 2011
tsunami and the massive destruction
it wrought, which almost brought the
world’s third largest economy to a halt.
For NSK, one of the country’s largest
dental manufacturers, troubles in the
home market are its least concern because
the company conducts most of its business elsewhere. According to president
and CEO Eiichi Nakanishi, with whom
Dental Tribune International recently had
the opportunity to speak at the company’s
headquarters in Tochigi, more than 80
per cent of the company’s revenues are
now generated by its operations outside
of Japan.
In the last three years, NSK has been
performing particularly well in mature
markets such as Europe and North America, where it boosted its presence with
the opening of its new headquarters near
Chicago in 2011, despite unfavorable conditions such as high market saturation
and the ongoing decline of the yen against
the dollar.
Since 2009, Nakanishi has seen his
company regaining market share in Asia
through centralized distribution and

Here at the PDC
To learn more about NSK, visit booth No.
109 in the Exhibit Hall.

after-the-sale support offered through its
new subsidiary in Singapore.
Another significant contributor has
been NSK’s European office in Germany,
which accounted for almost one third of
the 22.2 billion yen ($278 million) in sales
the company reported in 2011.“That is why
economic conditions in our home market
have little or no impact on our overall business. We really think globally,” Nakanishi
explains.
According to the 48-year-old, who has
run the company since 2000, one of the
major reasons for NSK’s strong market
position, even in established markets, is
its dedication to innovation and quality,
combined with the excellent after-sales
service it is able to provide to customers in
almost every country except North Korea.
But this hasn’t always been the case.
Founded in the 1930s, the company
had a rough start, and operations were
completely halted during World War II.
The production of dental handpieces
resumed in 1951, however, the company
has grown extensively and now employs
more than 700 people in its Japanese
offices in Tochigi and Tokyo.

Dental Tribune International Publisher and CEO Torsten Oemus, left, meets with
NSK CEO Eiichi Nakanishi. (Photo/Lutz Hiller, DTI)
5

NSK continues to produce the vast
majority of its products’ precision parts inhouse, which, according to Nakanishi, is
one of the main reasons that dentists now
identify the company with high-quality
products. “We employ many good engineers and marketing people who help us to
constantly improve our brand and make it
more attractive to dentists,” he says.
One of NSK’s recent innovations,
launched at the 2011 IDS in Cologne,
Germany, for example, is the Ti-Max Z
series, a durable premium handpiece that
is claimed to have the smallest heads and
necks in the sector, as well as an exceptionally low noise level and virtually no
vibration. The Surgic Pro surgical micromotor has also received much interest,
particularly by dental implant surgeons,
and is now distributed alongside sys-

tems by major implant manufacturers.
NSK asserts it pays close attention to
the needs of its customers, a philosophy
that has resulted in products such as the
S-max pico, which was developed solely
for the treatment of patients with smaller
mouths, such as children.
Moving into other markets is conceivable but unlikely to happen anytime soon,
Nakanishi says. Even though his company
has begun to enter new areas in the past
decade with the launch of instruments
such as ultrasonic scalers and polishers,
its core business will remain dental handpieces and other small-motor equipment.
“When it comes to handpieces, we
have produced more innovations than our
competitors,” he remarks. “Our goal is to
become the No. 1 company worldwide in
this segment.”

‘Barrier protection’ critical in dental professionals’ gloves
 While caring for their patients, dental and health care professionals are
constantly exposed to bodily fluids that
may carry viruses and other infectious
agents. It is therefore critical that the
gloves these professionals use provide
the best possible barrier protection.
Many types of gloves are available
today, but it is important to know that not
all gloves have the same barrier capability, depending on the type of material
used. For example, natural rubber latex
gloves have long been acknowledged for
their very effective barrier properties,
while non-latex gloves, such as vinyl
(PVC), have inferior barrier capability as
shown by numerous studies.
Other synthetic gloves, such as nitrile
and polyisoprene, perform much better
than vinyl but are more costly, especially
polyisoprene gloves. Using gloves with
inferior barrier capability could expose

to ensure the gloves are high in
barrier effectiveness and low
Here at the PDC
in protein/low allergy risks, in
To learn more about the Stanaddition to providing excellent
dard Malaysian Gloves qualcomfort, fit and durability — quality certification program, visit
the Malaysian Rubber Export
ities that manufacturers of many
Promotion Council booth No.
synthetic gloves are attempting
345 in the Exhibit Hall.
to replicate.
Furthermore, latex gloves
5
(Photo/MREPC)
are green products, derived
both the patients and users to
from a natural and sustainundesirable/ harmful infections.
able resource, and are environmentally
Malaysia is the world’s largest medical
friendly. (Learn more at www.smg-gloves.
gloves exporter (latex and nitrile). Both
com and www.latexglove.info).
quality and user’s safety are of top priorThe use of low-protein powder-free
ity to the nation’s glove industry. To this
gloves has been demonstrated by many
end, a quality certification program (the
independent hospital studies to vastly
Standard Malaysian Gloves or the SMG)
reduce the incidence of latex sensitizahas currently been formulated for latex
tion and allergic reactions in workplaces.
examination gloves.
More important, latex allergic indiAll SMG-certified gloves must comply
viduals donning non-latex gloves can
with stringent technical specifications
now work alongside their co-workers

wearing the improved low-protein gloves
without any heightened allergy concern.
However, for latex-allergic individuals,
it is still important they use appropriate
non-latex gloves that provide them with
effective barrier protection, such as quality nitrile and polyisoprene gloves.
Selecting the right gloves should be
an educated consideration to enhance
safety of both patients and users. For
decades, gloves made in Malaysia have
been synonymous with quality and
excellence, and they are widely available
in an extensive array of brands, features
and prices.
They can be sourced either factory
direct (www.mrepc.com/trade and click
“medical devices”) or from established
dental product distributors in the U.S.
(Source: Malaysian Rubber Export
Promotion Council)

[7] =>

[8] =>

exhibitors

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8, 2013

Online, automated ordering
system used to control costs
Dental Savings Club says its dental-instruments prices are influenced by unique automated, ordering system
 Dental Savings Club has a wide variety of dental instruments and other
products at great savings, thanks to a
unique web-based automated ordering
system that minimizes expenses and
passes savings to customers.

Hawk loupes and lights

Evaluating dental loupes can be difficult. But asking these basic questions
can help:
• Are the loupes available in different magnifications?
• Are the loupes available in both
flip-up and thru-the-lens models?
• Can the loupes be used with a
light source (of the same brand or from
other manufacturers)?
• And, finally, are the loupes light
weight?
The answer to all of these questions is “yes,” when evaluating Hawk
loupes and lights. Among all the criteria to consider, perhaps most important is weight and balance. Weight is
important because the clinician will
wear them for many hours during the
course of the day. Many dental professionals describe the Hawk loupe/
lights as quite comfortable.
Magnification strengths are avail-

Here at the PDC
To learn more about the Dental Savings
Club, visit booth No. 1329. To place
an order, call (888) 768-1230, or visit
online at www.dentalsavingsclub.com.

able from 2.5x to 4.5x to satisfy most
needs. The light source is light in
weight and extremely bright, projecting a pure white light. Accurate
light is critical when selecting a shade
for restorative material.
If you are already set with loupes,
but perhaps need a light, the company reports that the Hawk light
source is known for compatibility with
nearly every loupe in the marketplace.
According to the company, many buyers report cost benefits with Hawk
loupes because the loupe and light
source can be bought separately.

WOlf handpieces

Despite the fear it might invoke
in patients, the conventional drill
remains one of the most important
instruments in a dental practice.
Although maintaining and repairing

WOlf handpieces, above, and Hawk
loupes and lights, right, are just two of
the many brands sold by Dental Savings
Club. (Photos/Provided by Dental
Savings Club)


these vital instruments can be pricey,
such preservation is necessary
because of frequent usage and the
need for steam autoclaving after each
use.
Dental Savings Club reports that
it is already known for savings available on KUT carbide and diamond
rotary instruments, Kopy impression
material and Hugs and Kisses hygiene
instruments and whitening products.
The WOlf handpieces line builds
on this reputation for cost efficiency.
These lightweight handpieces are
available for most systems (Kavo, NSK,
W&H, Midwest, Star and four-hole
systems). They are well-balanced and
include swivel capability (although
couplers are not included), push-button chucks, fiber optics with LED

beams (for shadow-free visibility) and
a triple-port water spray.
WOlf handpieces are known for low
maintenance-and-repair costs. Their
power output is 18 watts, and the handpiece spins at 400,000 rpm.
According to Dental Savings Club,
you can purchase a new WOlf handpiece for far less than it costs to repair
many name-brand handpieces.
(Source: Dental Savings Club)

Topical anaesthetic now offered in Canada
n Switching to unit dose just
got easier: HurriCaine ® topical
anaesthetic is now even easier
to apply with new Snap -n- Go™
Swabs. The disposable swab
applicator helps eliminate risk
of cross contamination. Just snap
the tip and HurriCaine liquid
fills the swab at the other end.

Individually wrapped

Each swab is individually
wrapped, making it convenient
for presetting procedure trays
or for dispensing to patients for
post-procedure discomfort.
These 20 percent Benzocaine
filled swabs offer fast, temporary
relief of occasional minor irrita-

Here at the PDC
To learn more about HurriCaine
topical anaesthetic products, and
receive a free sample, visit booth
No. 221 (Beutlich Pharmaceuticals) in the Exhibit Hall.

tion and pain associated with:
sore mouth and throat; canker
sores; minor dental procedures;
minor injury of the mouth and
gums, and minor irritation of the
mouth and gums caused by dentures or orthodontic appliances
Snap -n- Go offers other products such as our HurriView ® and

HurriView II® plaque disclosing
swabs for preventive care. HurriView and HurriView II will help
you show patients where they
have plaque build-up and help
motivate them to improve oral
hygiene routines.

Free sample

Visit booth No. 221 to learn more
about HurriCaine Snap -n- Go
Swabs and receive a free sample.
HurriCaine,
HurriView
and HurriView II Snap -n- Go
Swabs are exclusively available
through Henry Schein Canada.
(Source: Beutlich
Pharmaceuticals)

HurriCaine free samples can be found at booth No.
221. (Photo/Provided by Beutlich Pharmaceuticals)


[9] =>

[10] =>

industry news

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8, 2013

Piezosurgery Touch by Mectron cuts
bone, minimizes soft-tissue trauma
Users of piezoelectric osseous surgery system
praise its precision, performance and safety
 Piezosurgery® Touch™ is the latest
generation of the original piezoelectric
technology for bone surgery, developed
by Mectron Medical Technologies and
Dr. Tomaso Vercellotti.
The patented Piezosurgery technology was designed to be precise, powerful
and safe. The company reports that it
is the only piezoelectric technology for
bone surgery that is supported by more
than 100 published studies. There has
been a proliferation of low-cost imitations, but according to the company, the
Piezosurgery technology has no rivals in
performance, safety and precision.
Piezosurgery Touch micrometric cutting action provides surgical precision
and intra-operative sensitivity. And the
selective cutting action enables practitioners to cut bone tissue while minimizing trauma to the soft tissue. All of this
is possible while operating with high
intra-operative visibility and a blood-free
surgical site. Furthermore, research
shows that Piezosurgery is not only
less invasive, but also promotes faster
tissue healing. According to the company, Piezosurgery by Mectron is the
standard for osseous surgery. And the
company says that is why virtually every
quality training institution has chosen to
utilize Piezosurgery by Mectron.

The lighted Piezosurgery
Touch handpiece, enables
users to direct light to
exactly where it is needed.


The Piezosurgery
Touch micrometric
cutting action
provides surgical
precision and intraoperative sensitivity.
(Photos/Provided by
Piezosurgery Inc.)


Close up of the
Piezosurgery
Touch touch
screen.


Custom
Carrying
Case for the
Piezosurgery
Touch.


What users are saying

Here’s what individuals at institutions
using the instrument are saying:
“The incorporation of Piezosurgery into
both my private practice and institute over
the past four years has indeed resulted in a
distinct paradigm shift with all of my bone
grafting protocols. This exciting technology has afforded me the ability to fine tune
and finesse all bone related surgery including donor and recipient site preparation
for bone grafting and implant placement,
as well as extraction site management and
implant removal.”
— Dr. Michael A. Pikos,
Pikos Implant Institute

“A friend’s daughter recently came to
me to have an impacted super numeral
tooth removed. Upon taking a panorex
radiograph, I discovered it was below
the apex of the pre-molar and below the
mandibular inferior alveolar canal. To my
surprise, the CT showed it was against
the lingual plate. I had to reflect the lingual tissue and mylohyoid muscle to gain
access to the site. Without my Piezosurgery
machine, the uncovery and extraction
of this bony impaction could have been

potentially life threatening. It gave me
great peace of mind that I could work in
the floor of the mouth without risk of cutting the lingual artery or inferior alveolar
nerve. The Piezosurgery unit paid for itself
100 times over that day. It’s also great for
osteotomies when preparing bone blocks.
No longer do I have to green stick fracture
a thick cortical plate to harvest the bone.
Instead, a very predictable volume of bone
and a more atraumatic procedure for the
patient is found when using this device.”
— Dr. Carl E. Misch,
Misch International Implant Institute

“The Piezosurgery unit has allowed me
to perform very precise and minimally
invasive procedures for my patients and it
out-performs any of the other Piezo units.
This is the standard and original with
substantial documentation and research
behind it.”

— Dr. Sascha A. Jovanovic, gIDE Global Institute for Dental Education

“I have used four different brands of
piezo surgical units. Piezosurgery by Mectron offers the highest quality in terms of

cutting efficiency, minimal trauma to the
bone (especially in deep cutting), and I use
it every day for my bone augmentation/
ridge splitting techniques!”
— Dr. Samuel Lee,
International Academy
of Dental Implantology

“I have been using Piezosurgery in
my OMS practice for five years. Piezosurgery provides a new level of precision,
efficiency and safety in surgical treatment. Complicated procedures including
sinus grafting, ridge expansion and nerve
repositioning can be performed with less
stress and have an expanded role in my
practice. The speed of the unit is impressive, reducing operative time and patient
discomfort.”
— Dr. Daniel Cullum,
Implants Northwest Live

Built on proven platform

Piezosurgery Touch has again raised
the bar in piezoelectric osseous surgery,
according to the comapny. Piezosurgery
Touch is based on the proven Piezosurgery 3 platform — with enhancements:

1) Sleek new look and style befitting of
its Italian heritage.
2) State-of-the-art glass touch-screen,
making buttons obsolete.
3) Bright LED light that swivels to
shine clearly on every surgery.
4) Sophisticated computerized feedback system to automatically adjust to
the individual surgeon’s touch.
The company describes the new
Piezosurgery Touch by Mectron as being
simple to use: Touch the application, then
touch the desired irrigation level and
then touch your preferred setting for the
light. Touch the foot pedal to start your
surgery. That’s it. As the company puts it:
“You’ve got the touch.”
The Piezosurgery Touch and the Piezosurgery 3 are available exclusively from
Piezosurgery Inc., based in Columbus,
Ohio. To order or learn more, call Piezosurgery at (614) 459-4922 or (888) 877-4396
(PIEZO), or visit www.piezosurgery.us.
The company encourages you to call or
click right now to learn more.
(Source: Piezosurgery Inc.)

[11] =>

[12] =>

12

see vancouver

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8, 2013

Three cool things to do in Vancouver
 Don’t think Vancouver has it all? Well
here’s a combination of sights that cover
the broadest extremes you can imagine.
Start with a dramatic perspective on the
unique environment of a temperate rainforest, then visit the ocean’s depths and
the far reaches of space.

lano River. Some spots on the walkway,
have nothing but glass between you and
the canyon floor below. Also at the park,
he Treetops Adventure suspended walkways present another remarkable way to
explore a temperate rainforest. Contact at
(604) 985-7474.

Capilano Cliffwalk

The Vancouver Aquarium

Billed, as “not for the faint of heart," the
high, narrow Cliffwalk at the Capilano
Suspension Bridge park is a cantilevered,
suspended series of walkways jutting out
from a granite-faced cliff above the Capi-

5

More than 900,000 visitors wander
through the Vancouver Aquarium every
year, attracted by the more than 70,000
fascinating residents, including jelly fish,
octopuses, sea turtles, crocodiles, frogs,

Cliffwalk at Capilano Suspension Bridge (Photo/Robert Selleck, ‘today’ staff)

AD

dolphins, seals, sea lions, sharks, beluga
whales and some of the most exotic and
colorful coral you can imagine.
Located in Stanley Park,the facility is
surrounded by 1,000 acres of woodlands,
lakes, gardens, beaches and wildlife,
much of it accessible by an 8.8-kilometre
stretch of the 22-kilometre seawall walking/cycling trail that runs along the city's
waterfront. Contact at (604) 659-3400.

The Gordon MacMillan Southam
Observatory

True, the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
next door is the big draw, but on Saturday
nights, the observatory opens to the
public. It boasts a half-metre f/16 classical Cassegrain reflector telescope on
a fork-style equatorial mount, equipped
with a 15 cm f/15 refractor guidescope
(achromatic lens).
The telescope's drive system is "go-to"
(fully computer controlled), based on an
Astrometrics Instruments servomotor
package. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers guide your exploration and answer
your questions. Contact at (604) 738-2855.

Vancouver Aquarium coral (Photo/
Provided by Vancouver Aquarium)
5

[13] =>

[14] =>

industry news

Pacific Dental Conference — March 8, 2013

Laser dentistry: solution for faster
treatments, better outcomes
n Many dentists are considering how
they can increase practice revenues. Differentiating yourself from your competitors through advanced technology and
treating more patients per day is an
effective strategy. The latest in dental
laser systems may well be the answer
for many practices. Most often offering
superior treatment speed, increased clinical quality and a positive experience for
patients, many dental lasers have evolved
dramatically from the days when they
were slower to use than a high-speed
handpiece.
It may be true that some laser systems,
which deliver laser energy through an
optical fibre, have limitations because of
the relatively low speed at which the treatment can be carried out. Why? To protect
the expensive fibre, laser energy levels
must be kept low, often at the expense of
treatment speed and efficiency. However,
today’s “next generation” laser systems,
utilizing an articulated arm with reflecting mirrors and further supported by
advanced digital technology, can deliver
laser energy much more efficiently, without compromising treatment speed. Such
lasers achieve optical drilling speeds of
up to 1.6 times faster than conventional
high-speed burs1.

Which laser source

When considering enhancing a dental
practice with an investment in a dental
laser system, the right choice for the best
treatment outcomes is essential. Erbium
lasers have long been recognized as the
optimal dental lasers for effective, precise and minimally invasive hard dental
tissue treatments2. Of all infrared lasers,
they exhibit the highest absorption in
water and hydroxyapatite, and are ideally
suited for cold optical drilling in enamel,
dentine and composite fillings.
A recent study published in the Journal
of Oral Laser Applications3 states that
an Er:YAG (LightWalker®) laser delivered
through an articulated arm cuts three
times faster through dentine and 4.2
times faster through enamel than an
Er,Cr:YSGG laser delivered through an
optical fibre.
According to the authors of the study,
the measured differences in treatment
speed result from the differences in the
laser wavelengths, pulse duration and
shape of the laser pulses. Laser physics is
an exact science. The Er:YAG wavelength
is absorbed three times better in hard
dental tissue than Er,Cr:YSGG. This means
that the Er:YAG removes more hard tissue
at the same laser power settings, enabling
faster procedures. To best ensure the
comfort of the patient experience during
hard-tissue laser treatments, it’s essential
that as little heat as possible created by
the laser energy is diffused into the sur-

Ideally, laser pulses should be
square-shaped, without a slow rise
and prolonged decrease in laser pulse
power. This ensures that laser power
remains constant within the pulse,
eliminating inefficiency and unwanted
thermal effects to surrounding tissues.



Photos/Provided by National Dental Inc.

Optical laser drilling leaves no smear
layer around the opening of the lateral
canal, shown after PIPS endo.



The LightWalker system
from National Dental Inc.
(NDI) lets you choose between two laser sources.



Here at the PDC
To learn more about the LightWalker
laser system and other products available through National Dental Inc., visit
booth No. 1419 (National Dental Inc.) in
the Exhibit Hall.

rounding tissue. The determining factor
for this is the laser pulse duration. If
the laser energy can be delivered to the
target tissue in a very short time span,
then the energy cannot escape from the
ablated tissue and cold optical drilling
is achieved. This is not only required to
maintain patient comfort, but also determines maximum optical drilling speed. In
this respect Er:YAG lasers with advanced
digital pulse control VSP are at a distinct
advantage because they can generate
very short, 50-microsecond pulse durations.
A final consideration that contributes
to faster optical drilling speeds is the
shape of the laser pulse. Ideally, laser
pulses should be square-shaped, without
a slow rise and prolonged decrease in
laser pulse power. This ensures that laser
power remains constant within the pulse,
eliminating inefficiency and unwanted
thermal effects to surrounding tissues.
The Er:YAG laser system used in the study
provided virtually square pulses, while
the Er,Cr:YSGG system produced pulses
with a longer decline in laser power
throughout the pulse. Accordingly, this
difference in pulse shape also contributed
to the measured difference in optical
drilling speeds. For procedures such as

caries removal, it’s clear that the ability to
perform the procedure faster and better
provides for the capacity to treat more
patients effectively daily.

Advantages for patients

In 90 percent of the cases, patients feel no
discomfort at all during Er:YAG laser treatments4. Procedures can frequently be
performed without anesthesia, eliminating considerable waiting time for patient
numbing. With improved patient comfort
and reduced anxiety (no needles, no noise,
no vibration, no numbness), the stress for
both dentist and supporting personnel is
also minimized.
Reduced need for anesthesia allows
greater opportunity to treat patients in all
four quadrants during the same appointment. Fewer follow-up appointments and
faster treatments enable increased free
chair time and much happier patients. A
satisfied patient is more likely to spread
the word about comfortable and quick
treatments, providing for organic practice referral growth. Furthermore, optical
laser drilling does not leave a smear layer
on the prepared tooth surface in the way
mechanical burs do5.
There are dental laser systems on the
market, such as the LightWalker from
NDI, that combine two laser sources to
provide a comprehensive dental treatment platform. These laser systems allow
the dentist to perform both hard and soft
dental tissue procedures, often in one
session. They also allow dentists to per-

form procedures that would otherwise
have been referred elsewhere. After relevant clinical training, these systems will
allow dentists to expand their services to
include treatment options for periodontal
disease, osseous surgery and many other
procedures. The provision of additional
procedures allows practices to populate
the patient schedule with new, high revenue-generating procedures.
By optimizing treatment speed and
comfort, building patient referrals and
marketing exposure, the new advanced
dual-frequency Nd:YAG and Er:YAG
digital pulsed lasers are indispensable for
the modern, expanding practice.
˙

References

Miletic I, Baraba A, Krmek S, Bozec Z, Anic I.
Comparison between Er:YAG laser and high
speed hand- piece: prepared cavity volumes
and ablation speed rate in enamel and dentin
in vitro. Temperature changes and SEM observations associated with Er:YAG preparations
Laser Surg Med 2008.
R. Hibst. Lasers for Caries Removal and Cavity
Preparation: State of the Art and Future Directions. J Oral Laser Appl 2002; 2: 203-211.
Perhavec T, Diaci J. Comparison of Er:YAG and
Er,Cr:YSGG Dental Lasers. J. Oral Laser Appl 2008;
8: 87–94.
Matsumoto K, Nakamura Y, Mazeki K, Kimura
Y. Clinical dental applica- tion of Er:YAG laser for
Class V cavity preparation. J Clin Laser Med Surg
1996; 14: 123–127.
Bader C, Krejci I. Indications and limitations of
Er:YAG laser applica- tions in dentistry. Am J Dent
2006; 19: 178–186.

2.
3.
4.

(Source: National Dental Inc.)

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[cover] => today Pacific Dental Conference 8 March

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Table of contents

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Event News / Don’t let pain end your career / Scenes from Thursday / Exhibitors / Industry News / See Vancouver

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