News & Notes | British Dental Journal

FRESHEN UP SmithKline Beecham has introduced the new Aquafresh Max Active toothbrush, a chunky handled, ergonomically-designed brush available in two formats. The X-Active brush features

cross angled bristles while the Concave variety features inward-curving bristles. Both are made with a two-component rubber and plastic handle and are available in four colours: orange,

blue, turquoise and lilac. Aquafresh Max Active will be positioned at the premium end of the market, retailing at £3.49. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 051 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY PLANS SPOT CHECKS The

issue of dental special waste management has been thrown into the spotlight following a tightening of disposal requirements driven by the Environment Agency. Up until January '99, the

widespread practice of disposing of amalgam, amalgam capsules and lead foils with clinical wastes and radiographic solutions to sewer had not been addressed in any significant way. However,

a tightening of the requirements in response to the Special Waste Regulations has seen a growing awareness of this matter by the dental profession. Until recently, the Environment Agency

(EA) adopted a softly softly approach and it is believed that no prosecutions have been made for breaches of the legislation. However, following a further tightening of waste classifications

in July 2000 the Agency has revised its position. The Agency has formulated a national plan to make visits to producers of special waste to include dental practices. In the same month, the

EA in the Dorset area made preparations for dental spot checks to begin in early 2001. Envirodent offer a waste management programme specifically for the dental industry. Their customers

include a number of health authorities/ LDCs, NHS Trusts, Boots Dentalcare, IDH, BUPA body corporate and Dencare Management Group. Henry Schein have joined forces with Envirodent offering a

comprehensive waste management service. Call 01494 774460 or email [email protected]. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 052 ALL ACTION AT WRIGLEY Wrigley Oral Healthcare in Action (OHA) have

produced the patient leaflet 'Your quick guide to a healthy mouth' (left), explaining a simple oral care routine for patients in four easy steps. The leaflet contains information

about brushing teeth using a fluoride toothpaste, how often to brush and the importance of check-ups. OHA have also launched their third Dental Student Award for 2001 in association with the

BDA. Participating students have been set a two-part challenge. Firstly they must formulate a questionnaire designed to help dental professionals assess xerostomic patients. Secondly, they

are required to produce a simple patient evaluation guide. The winning student will receive £500 and their school will receive £1,000. For information on OHA activities call 0800 0 564 563.

READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 053 MEDITEAM ON-LINE MediTeam's new home page at www.mediteam.com offers dentists a range of information about Carisolv, a method for the removal of caries with

minimum trauma. The home page provides training in the method to dentists, including an introduction course, literature about Carisolv and the international customer newsletter, MediTeam

Times. This information is also available on CD. MediTeam is a Swedish research-oriented dental company that markets new treatments world wide based on odontological research. READER

RESPONSE NUMBER: 054 WEAVING A DENTAL WEB It is now two years since TheDentalWeb, the UK's first dental web portal, was launched. Over that time Internet technology has progressed, and

so too has TheDentalWeb. The site has just been re-launched, offering a host of new services. TheDentalWeb claims to be the only truly independent web portal, with news from a variety of

dental publications. There are also links to over 1000 dental and general interest sites around the world, categorised for rapid access. Free software is available to download and free links

to users own web sites can be included. A web site award programme is in place for users to enter. TheDentalWeb also offers on-line CPD course verification. TheDentalWeb aims to facilitate

not only e-mail between dentists but also the transmission of photographs, radiographs and streaming live video. The site will also offer voice communication so users can converse on-line

with practitioners throughout the world. Other free services include unlimited e-mail addresses and web site hosting. The site is not restricted to the serious side of dentistry, but also

features links to leisure activities. The web site can be found at www.thedentalweb.com. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 055 METALOR COMES OUT OF THE SHADE Metalor unveiled their new digital shade

system developed in collaboration with DentPark Ltd and Olympus Optical Company at the recent FDI conference in Paris. Metalor have secured the worldwide marketing rights to use software and

hardware developed by DentPark, bringing together an advanced Olympus digital camera and medical light-source to address the complicated subject of shade selection and communication in

dentistry. The product is a new generation of hardware and software which combine to accurately measure the shade, shape and contour of a natural tooth, transmitting the data electronically

from the dental surgery to the dental laboratory without compromising the shade information. Metalor claims unique features of the system include accuracy of shade measurement, simplicity,

the elimination of the need for interpretation between dentists and technicians, state-of-the-art technology and the promotion of the relationship between dentists and technicians. Following

the launch Metalor, DentPark and Olympus are welcoming feedback from dental surgeons and technicians within Europe and working together to fine tune the dental shade system before it is

available to the market in March 2001. The system should cost little more than a top of the range digital camera. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 056 FRIENDLY TAX Taxation Aspects For Dentists: A

Friendly Guide aims to explain how taxation works for employed dentists and self-employed dental practitioners. The book is written in three sections, simplifying complicated tax rules. The

first section briefly introduces the new tax system of self-assessment and guides the reader to tax saving measures. The second section deals with employed dentists working in hospitals and

dental surgeries claiming tax allowances and reliefs. The final section deals with the self-employment side of the dental profession covering dental consultants, associates, single-handed

practitioners and partnerships. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 057 ELUDE PAIN... Eludril mouthwash, spray and Elgydium toothpaste all contain the active ingredient chlorhexidine, which has been

proven to be effective in reducing and inhibiting dental plaque. Eludril mouthwash has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and can also be used in the treatment of oral thrush and

minor infections of the throat. Eludril spray is the only dual action anaesthetic and anti-bacterial formulation on the market, helping to reduce the formation of plaque, bacterial and

fungicidal loading within the mouth and provide pain relief to affected areas of the mouth and throat. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 058 GET HOOKED Heraeus Kulzer's aspirating syringe

features a unique sharp double spiral hook. Heraeus Kulzer claims this ensures a positive bite on the carpule plunger, guaranteeing smooth operation, assured aspiration, increased patient

safety and protection against accidental intravenous injection. Heraeus Kulzer also say the syringe's unique thumb and finger grip ensures a secure grip with easy aspirating action. The

carpule aspirating syringe has a positive threaded needle hub ensuring easy mounting and dismounting of needles and features a spring loaded cartridge for easy loading and unloading of

anaesthetic cartridges. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 059 ALL ENDS COVERED The Protector 2000 anti-needlestick aspirating cartridge Syringe from KaVo is claimed to be 100 per cent certain to

prevent the risk of needlestick injury from either end of the needle. This is important because tests show that up to 70 per cent of sharps injuries occur during disposal of the needle. One

of the safety benefits is that the needle is fully isolated by a protective sleeve which slides over the body of the syringe. The KaVo Protector 2000 is solidly manufactured in an advanced

resin material which can withstand over 6000 autoclave cycles. It is much lighter than conventional metal syringes. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 060 TIP TOP INNOVATION FROM PRESTIGE Prestige

Dental has introduced a new innovative system that allows easy intra-osseous anaesthesia without the problem of relocating the perforation with the syringe needle. The X-TIP System consists

of a drill and a guide sleeve. The drill leads the guide sleeve through the cortical plate, whereupon it is separated and withdrawn, leaving the guide sleeve in situ. The guide sleeve is

designed to accept a 27-gauge needle for injection of the anaesthetic. The X-TIP helps solve the problems associated with accurate location of the perforation, as the guide sleeve is left in

place allowing a clear pathway for the syringe needle. Prestige Dental also offers a needle burner which makes it possible to incinerate needles instantly, removing the chance of

contamination. Call Prestige on freephone 0800 591 175 for details. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 061 AIR ALL ABOUT IT... The tower stand-alone 'Air Touch' air abrasion unit can greatly

reduce the need for needles and anaesthetics. Air abrasion overcomes the fear many patients have of the dental drill and Henry Schein are currently offering the unit from Dentsply with a

free demonstration and a week's free trial. The unit works independently from the dentist's compressor and can be easily installed for the week's free trial period without

disrupting the surgery. The 'Air Touch' tower (pictured) is quiet and comes with an on-board evacuation system, allowing complete mobility. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 062 GETTING TO

THE POINT... Septodont's range of local anaesthetics includes the new Septanest 1:100,000, which features a rapid onset and offers a good duration of profound anaesthesia. Other

products in the range include the Septanest 1:200,000, featuring a similar rapid onset but with a shorter duration. Also available from the Septodont anaesthetics range are the Lignospan 2%

Special, the Scandonest 3% Plain and the Scandonest 2% Special. For topical use, Xylonor gel, Xylonor Spray and Pharmethyl are available. Septodont also claims to be Europe's leading

needle manufacturer, producing 150 needles per annum. Septodent needles go through a rigorous manufacturing process and are simple and safe to use. Safety Plus XL, the sterile, disposable,

passive and active aspirating injection system for single patient use, is now fitted with Septoject XL needles from Septodont. The system is designed to reduce the risk of needle stick

injury. Septoject XL needles have the same external dimensions as ordinary needles but have an internal diameter up to 43 per cent wider. Septodont claims this means that less pressure is

required when injecting to administer the same volume of anaesthetic, giving a more sensitive control of flow rate with the benefit of a gentler injection for the patient. Both passive and

active aspiration can be achieved with the Safety Plus XL. Passive aspiration is shown above left, and active aspiration is shown lower left. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 063 WORK IT OUT

AstraZeneca are pleased to announce that the Dental Local Anaesthesia Course Work Book for dental students, which has been supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca, is now

available. Also associated with the AstraZeneca Award for Excellence, Astra-Zeneca say this book is a further illustration of the company's ongoing support for dental students. The work

book was written by Dr Andrew Mason of the Unit of Comprehensive Dental Care, University of Dundee in conjunction with Professor Anthony Wildsmith, Head of the Anaesthesia Department,

Nine-wells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. READER RESPONSE NUMBER: 064 RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE News & Notes. _Br Dent J_

190, 48–51 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4800881 Download citation * Published: 13 January 2001 * Issue Date: 13 January 2001 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4800881 SHARE

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