We all know
that when we hit the wide world of dental practice the clock suddenly wades in
rather more than it did when we were undergraduates. It can be daunting at
first, but with some planning you can streamline your treatments, without
crucially dropping your standards. The classic example is the crown prep. Let's
work though an example case and see where we can save time.
The crown prep process
We will take
some things as given, we have the correct patient and that we have informed
consent - so let's start.
- Give
local anaesthetic
- Make
opposing arch impression
- Make
a bite record
- Take
a shade and do the lab card
- Prepare
tooth
- Make
impression of prep
- Temporary
Top tips to streamline your crown prep
How often at
dental school did you sit around chatting, waiting for your patient to go numb?
You may not have, but I did and it took me a while to realise that this numbing
up time is great for getting on with some other things which need to be done.
How long does an ID block take to work - at least a couple of minutes, in that
time you can easily make an opposing arch impression, a bite record and take
the shade. Then write the shade on the lab card and get that written up, I'm
sure your patient would rather wait for that extra minute or so whilst you do
these things rather than having you start work on a tooth which has not yet
gone numb.
Once the
above are done prepare the tooth in the usual fashion and make a cracking
impression of your prep and make your temporary, direct or indirect whichever
way you prefer.
Time saved
How much time
have we saved? 5 or 10 minutes. What can you do in that time, perhaps see
another patient, have a cup of tea or even get the earlier train home. It's
your time, make the most of it.
Tom Bysouth
As a Student at Cardiff Dental University, I was introduced to loupes very early on and the difference that they have made to my dentistry is huge. I bought the Orascoptic Freedom light apparatus to replace a budget light system I’ve had for about 3 years, and have not looked back since.
Helps with posture
The 2.8x magnification helps me maintain good posture and helps me to see the dentition in much greater detail - from a basic examination to more demanding procedures. Since making the decision to go with Orascoptic, I have been keeping my back straight, using indirect vision for restorative work on maxillary molars, and gaining access to detail that would not be visible without my loupes.
Lightweight
The field and depth of view through my TTL (through the lens) loupes are much better than budget pair of loupes that I had a year ago. And as they are much lighter, I even forgot I was wearing them. The Freedom is very comfortable and makes for a very streamlined fit, which means I can wear my loupes for an entire day.
No cross infection contamination
Being a fan of wireless technology, I always hated the wires with the older halogen systems, and I was always catching the cable on handles, levers and tubing. With the Freedom Light there is no battery pack extended on a wire that you have to thread under your tunic and no button to press to activate the light – both of which would be infection control hazards if operated with gloves on.
High quality light
The quality and intensity of the light, coupled with a directed beam makes viewing inside a patient’s mouth easy, and is definitely a “must have” accessory for any loupe system. Due to the power and brightness, it can be used as a trans-illumination tool to help identify cracks and caries within and below the enamel. This is a key positive with this light as this is a comfortable experience for both patient and dentist. Overall, the Freedom light has many advantages over a conventional wired light.
Great service
When purchasing loupes and lights, it is always worth making sure that the company has a good after sales service. I would also check how experienced they are in taking customised measurements, so they can to deliver a bespoke pair of loupes for you.
Overall, the Freedom light has many advantages over a conventional wired light with a pocket battery, ranging from improved infection control, to performance and comfort. It took me no time at all to get used to this set of loupes, and now I cannot imagine dentistry without them.
Go to www.bda.org/loupes for more details about the loupes.
Greg Coffey - 5th Year Cardiff Dental Student