The company is now working together as one combined force to develop solutions for the current challenges in dentistry, including products for enhanced hygienic safety in practices. The recently published edition of the customer magazine Vision also focuses on this topic, where international experts take a closer look at the various facets of hygiene. The in depth discussions clearly show that the scope of this issue extends far beyond germ free dental practices.
"Hygiene is important and desirable because it protects us and others against infection and promotes health," explained Jeffrey T. Slovin, CEO of Dentsply Sirona. "It affects all aspects of our lives and requires our constant attention – everywhere in the world." Because this issue is so prominent in the dental industry, the latest edition of Vision, the customer magazine from Dentsply Sirona, focuses on and emphasises the significance of dental hygiene.
Hygiene is of central importance when it comes to health. A prime example here is water, which is used for cleaning, personal hygiene and drinking water. Water was long considered to be harmful; it was not until the 19th century that scientific studies highlighted the cleansing effect of water, which, in turn, had a fundamental impact on society's approach to hygiene. Vision traces this history and takes a look at the activities in clinics, which were initially a pretty ‘dirty business’, as infection protection based on hygiene and disinfection did not emerge until the middle of the 19th century. Hygiene, what was treated back then as an innovation, is now standard practice and its working conditions are now the norm, especially in dental practices.
Practice hygiene: High quality standards do not mean higher expenses
This starts with the treatment center: The transmission instruments must be kept germ free and the hygiene features in the treatment centers from Dentsply Sirona support this goal. Intelligent, automated rinsing programs satisfy the stringent hygiene requirements for instrument and suction tubes as well as for water hygiene, making every day working life easier. Vision offers a historical overview of how treatment centers have changed through the years.
Hygienic instrument processing has also undergone major developments; in Panama, the state health authorities are prescribing the use of Dentsply Sirona's Dac Universal, the combined autoclave for mechanical instrument processing, in all clinics – a measure that is unique in the world.
Hygiene in all spheres of life
Hygiene is not just a term that is associated with germs and infection protection. A key element of practice life is radiation hygiene; X-rays must not endanger the patient's health unnecessarily. In this edition of Vision, Marco Ahonen, a dentist based in Helsinki, explains how to combine a safe, reliable diagnosis with radiation protection. According to Ahonen, the secret lies in embracing technical advances and applying them to practice workflows.
We are faced with hygiene related issues in other spheres of life too – this is often not apparent at first glance. Take company and process hygiene for example; a report in this edition of Vision looks at how Mr. and Mrs. Ritter (he is an OMS surgeon and she is an orthodontist) took over a joint practice in a clearly structured manner and transformed it into a specialist center.
Not just clean, but also safe and quick
Cerec Zirconia, the new way to produce full zirconia restorations in a single visit, is characterised by its safe, quick workflow. In this edition of Vision, power user Michael Skramstad shows how the process can be implemented in the practice and the patient friendly results that can be achieved.
In addition to user reports, the international customer magazine Vision offers the dentists, practice teams and dental technicians in its readership numerous suggestions and tips for day to day practice life, while offering an entertaining read. Vision is published in German and English, and can be requested free of charge from www.sirona.com/topics/vision/en/ as a print or e-paper edition.
For more information call 0845 071 5040 or email info@sironadental.co.uk