Cliff's Notes

Air Compressors, Intraoral Technology & Narrow Body Implants

Cliff’s Notes for March 25, 2010
…..E-Blast…..

Cliff Marsh, Henry Schein ……Cell: 201-321-7494……Fax: 201-262-2210…..E-mail cliff.marsh@henryschein.com
http://www.cliffsnotesblog.wordpress.com

“Every stake holder in dentistry should participate in the National Health Information Infrastructure”
American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org/goto/nhii
This link to the ADA may be the most important thing you look at today. Healthcare has been moving in this direction for 15 years and now it is time for you to become engaged. Change is inevitable so you need to embrace it and learn how to utilize to benefit your patients, staff, practice value and most of all family. Part of my job is to work with your financial and legal advisors so they are informed on what it will take to get you where you want to or need to go. They can then offer their “informed” suggestions so that you can make “informed” decisions.

In This Weeks Issue
• Air Compressors, A fact of life!
• The Newest Functions of Intraoral Technology!
• Narrow Body Implants
• Dentrix / EZ Dental Users Group

Compressors, A Fact of Life……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Your compressor is critical for the operation of your practice. They are mechanical devices that require monthly maintenance at the least. Now let’s think about what a compressor needs, after all it’s a tank with a motor on top, right? Wrong! The compressor you buy at Home Depot is a tank with a motor on top. A dental compressor is designed to deliver 100% clean, dry air that can be safely used during surgically invasive procedures. This is achieved in several ways, however, first we need to define the two basic styles.

If your compressor is over 15 years old, the chances are that it is an “oil type” head. The head is the motor and your unit may have 1, 2 or 3 mounted on top of the tank. The electric motor requires oil (compressor oil) to lubricate the bearings. Oil levels should be checked monthly. Now some of you are thinking, oil? I never even looked at the compressor, I just turn it on! Well, you’re not alone. Remember what I said last week, compressors and vacuum pumps are our un-sung heroes. Newer compressors are most likely “oil free” so lubrication is not necessary. However, both systems share some common maintenance.

When the compressor head is running, it is forcing ambient air into the holding tank until the internal pressure reaches 100lbs./sq inch. As you use the air, the tank pressure decreases. When the pressure drops to 80psi, the heads turn on and the system begins to “recover” until the pressure returns to 100psi and the head shut off. This usually takes about 20 seconds. 80psi in the tank is considered minimum to deliver 60psi to the operatory. You will lose about 1psi for every 2 feet the air needs to travel.

When you compress air, you literally squeeze the moisture out of it. That moisture condenses and collects at the bottom of the tank. Most compressors have automatic drains that will open when the condensed water level reaches a certain point. When the valve opens, the pressure in the tank purges the water and the valve closes. Every now and then you may see a little puddle of water under the compressor, it is probably nothing more than a recent purge. Purge valves do clog, so that little puddle is a good thing. If your compressor does not have an automatic drain, it will have a manual valve that you should purge daily if there is no purge valve, get a new compressor.

Although the air has been compressed and the tank purged, there is still some moisture in the air. That’s when the drying system comes in. Most dental compressors have drying chambers that utilize desiccant filters. The air from the tank passes through the filter chamber and the remaining moisture, dirt & oil (if your unit is an oil type) are captured. Eventually the filter element will fill up and need to be changed. This should be done annually. I know, your unit is 8 years old and you never did anything, so why worry about it? If you don’t maintain you compressor, it will deliver contaminated air through your delivery systems, 3 way syringes, handpieces and everything else that requires air to operate and that’s not healthy for any of your equipment.

Speaking of healthy, where does your compressor draw it’s air from? Is it an outside source or is it from the ambient air in the utility room? How clean is the air. Think about that old phrase, “garbage in – garbage out”. It is recommended that you schedule annual maintenance of you compressor and vacuum systems. As Benjamin Franklin said “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Also, re-circulated contaminated air is an O.S.H.A. concern.

The following link will take you to the maintenance guide for the Midmark oil-free compressor. Please don’t hesitate contacting me with any questions or concerns.

Click to access 10541200.pdf

IntraOral Imaging Technology’s Newest Functions, It’s Not Just Pictures…………………………………………………
New technologies have lead to advancements in intraoral diagnoses. Intégration with practice management system is considered critical to conform with future NHII standards. Advanced ‘Blue light’ technology is now being utilized to find what x-rays can’t see. Please review the following links.

Sopro Life – The Blue Revolution – by Acteon. Over the last five years, Acteon as directed all of their technical expertise, in conjunction with scientific and clinical researchers, to develop a patented technology which is based on the principle of fluorescence. The result of this effort is a revolutionary new device—SOPROLIFE* With SOPROLIFE®, diagnose occlusal or interproximal caries… differentiate with outstanding accuracy healthy tissue from infected tissue, so as to excavate only the decayed area. SOPROLIFE becomes an indispensable aid for the practitioner preferring minimally invasive dentistry. Enter in a new era and discover the Blue Revolution. *SOPROLIFE : Light Induced Fluorescence Evaluator.

http://www.acteongroup.com/Sopro%20Life

Spectra IntraOral Carries Detection System – by Air Techniques. Early caries detection has been sited as key to optimal prevention and treatment.1 Air Techniques’ Spectra uses fluorescence technology to aid in the detection of plaque and caries, especially early-stage enamel caries and hard-to-detect fissure caries. The lightweight handpiece has a high-resolution, high-sensitivity CCD sensor with auto exposure. The unit’s LEDs project high-energy light onto the tooth’s surface, causing cariogenic bacteria to fluoresce red and healthy enamel to fluoresce green.
http://www.airtechniques.com
http://www.airtechniques.com/products/spectra-caries-detection-aid.html

DEXcam™ 3 USB-2 Intra-oral Video Camera – by Dexis. As a leading provider of digital diagnostic imaging solutions, DEXIS® is pleased to offer DEXcam™ 3, a USB-2 intra-oral video camera that supports clinical diagnostics as well as providing an excellent tool for patient education and communication. DEXcam 3 features a seven-element glass optical lens, four bright LEDs and an internal prism that provide optimal lighting and a Sony® CCD sensor for sharp, high-definition image quality. Camera controls are conveniently located on the lightweight handpiece. Freeze images with a simple press of a button, then save the image into the patient record with a two-second press.
http://www.dexis.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=175

Narrow Body Implants……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Anew solid one-piece implants, with Non-Hygroscopic Screw-Retained restorations, are a major advance making it possible to create immediate, chairside, provisional restorations. The Anew Implant-restorative protocol was developed in conjunction with the Department of Implant Dentistry, New York University College of Dentistry. The following links will provide more information for your review.

Click to access anew_how_web_v2.pdf

http://www.dentatus.com

Topics Covered at the March 26, 2010 DENTRIX/EZ Dental User Group…………………………………………….
Insurance – Tips and Shortcuts
Custom library for Remarks
Default Assignment of Benefits and Release of Information
Status Box and Insurance Aging Report
Eligibility – Through E-Central and Manually
Insurance Notes – where they can be viewed
Collections – Optimization in DENTRIX
Guarantor Notes and Billing Statement Notes (Individual and Custom Library)
Verify Before Send
Billing Statement Filters
Aging Report with Guarantor Notes
Collections Manager
Referrals in Dentrix
Setting a related referral
Referral Slips and Recaps
Referral Analysis-In the Office Manager and for an Individual Patient
Quick Letters – Thank you for your referral

The next meeting will be on Friday, June 11th. http://www.dentrix.com/

Cliff Marsh
Henry Schein Dental
P.O. Box 663, 45 Rt. 46 East, Suite 605
Pine Brook, NJ 07058
tel. 201-321-7494
fax.201-262-2210
e-mail. cliff.marsh@henryschein.com
http://www.cliffsnotesblog.wordpress.com

March 28, 2010 - Posted by Cliff's Notes Blog | 1