Are dentists managers, technicians or artists? The role seems all encompassing, from managing patients' oral health, providing technical expertise with precise dental procedures and having an artist's job of creating work of aesthetic beauty. An artist isn't just someone who paints pictures after all it is anyone who works creatively or is skilled at something. The definition of the word was highlighted recently when the film The Artist premiered and some viewers asked for their money back claiming they 'didn't know it was going to be like that'... presumably they were disappointed there were no paintings on show.
The Oscar winning movie is black and white, silent, and filmed in a different aspect ratio than modern films. Does it spell the start of a new era for film? No. It was a one off flashback to a bygone era – there will not be a plethora of successful silent movies again, and we can never go back to the classic era of the Silver Screen. Whilst the film-going experience of The Artist is incredible, technically it is out of step with the continual march of progress which can be seen in all areas of life and work.
The march of progress
This march can be highlighted by tracking the course of the different film interpretations of the same story, take for example Robin Hood. I'm sure everyone will have their own favourite film version of the story, and the reasons for the decision will be based on a number of factors (No doubt Brian Adams will be one of the main ones). Whether you prefer the swashbuckling Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner or Russell Crowe in the lead role is personal opinion, the same too for the interpretation of the legend and how the story has been told, but what goes beyond subjective opinion and cannot be denied is the technical improvement made with regard the technological production and display.
Errol Flynn's bright green tights were seen in the full glory of 1930s Technicolor. Where the skyline was unnaturally blue (certainly for Britain) and the dusk scenes look remarkably like they were filmed in daytime with a veil put over the camera lens. When Kevin Costner appeared at the cinema the colour was much more true to life and realistic (even if his accent wasn't) and the picture quality was noticeably sharper. The Russell Crowe version again saw improved visuals as it was presented in high definition. No doubt the next Robin Hood film will be in 3D, a further progression.
Through films we can see how the progression of technology has changed public perception of quality and acceptability. Whilst Technicolor was once the forefront of film production it now looks almost comical. Films from the '90s have aged somewhat too with the picture quality not quite as good as modern standards. In science fiction the contrast is even greater with special effects which were once cutting edge and praised for their realism are now outdated. Times change and the latest film-makers, artists and technicians have to keep up with the latest developments to keep the public satisfied. The same is true in dentistry where materials and techniques are constantly evolving. Professionals have to keep up or risk their work looking as believable as Ray Harryhausen models in years to come.
Patient expectation
When Errol Flynn's Robin Hood was released the average cinema-goer's expectations from their dentist would have been considerably lower than today's. Dentistry has improved, the tools, techniques and materials are all much better than they were, and this continual strive for improvement can only be a good thing – would anyone really want to go back to treating patients as they did 60 years ago? Would patients be happy with a service 60 years behind the times? Would any customer? Take a look at how many gramophones were sold last year and that might give you an answer.
So progression is important, and not just in a superficial way for the vanity-stricken dentists who want to be seen to be keeping up with the Jones'. It can be important in a tangible and practical way that can have a real impact to a dentist's working life as well as to patient satisfaction.
Keeping up
With so many products on the market, and new releases always claiming to be the answer to all your problems how do you decide which ones to use? Going back to the film analogy for a second how do you decide what to watch when you are in a video store? Most people have moved beyond judging a film on its box cover, and hopefully they don't judge dental materials that way either. Far more weight comes from comments from independent reviews, these can be professional film experts or friends. Of course if you like a certain director or actor you may be more inclined to give the film a try too.
The same is true with dental products, and when a new material released is supported with expert opinion and favourable field test reviews you can be fairly confident of its efficacy. Also if it comes from a company you know and trust then you might be more inclined to give it a try.
Venus Pearl is a new composite from Heraeus, the latest release in the popular Venus range. It is backed with expert reviews and its field test brought back results even the Heraeus have been amazed by. Of course viewers can only tell if they like a film after they have seen it, and just as dentists will only be able to tell if Venus Pearl is for them after experiencing it. Those interested in the very latest in high end composites are encouraged to try it, and experience for themselves the difference.
What is it?
Venus Pearl is a new universal light curing, radio-opaque nano-hybrid composite for anterior and posterior use, producing aesthetic restorations which are natural in appearance. The material is designed to be used following the application of a dentine/enamel adhesive for use with light cured composite restorations. It is the latest edition in the Venus range that Heraeus claims reinforces the brand.
Venus Pearl can be used for:
- direct restorations of Class I-V cavities
- direct composite veneers
- shape corrections of teeth
- splinting of teeth loosened by trauma or periodontal disease
- indirect restorations (inlays, veneers)
- restoration of primary teeth
- core build up and
- repairs of porcelain, composite (in combination with an adequate repair system).
Basically it can do everything that Venus and Venus Diamond can do, and retains the high mechanical qualities of its predecessors. The main difference between Venus Pearl and Venus/Venus Diamond is in the consistency. Venus Pearl has a soft creamy consistency and is non sticky.
One unique item within the Venus Pearl rang is the 'Core' shade, with a pale green colour and 3mm depth of cure, it's ideal for 'core' build-ups, especially in the posterior region.
Hands on
What does all this mean practically? Obviously one of the most important aspects of a composite is its handling properties, and Heraeus has developed Venus Pearl to give dentists an easier to handle and more convenient material. As such, Venus Pearl offers impressive sculptability and polishing.
Its physical properties ensure low shrinkage stress but it maintains a high flexural strength. It can be used in multiple layer techniques or single layer techniques and is available in a wide range of shades in three levels of translucency, meaning users can provide long lasting aesthetic results that patients will be proud of.
Venus Pearl can also be used by any dentists doing work with Invisalign, Six Month Smiles, and Inman aligner ortho-type treatments and need strength in a thin section.
Feedback
So Venus Pearl is a continuation of the Venus brand but what kind of a sequel is it? Does it enhance the story in the same way as something like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, or is it more of a disappointment (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)?
The verdict seems to be overwhelmingly positive. A European wide field-test on the material suggests that almost all (93 per cent) of those who try Venus Pearl will end up using it in their practice.
Over 92 per cent claim the polishing time is the same or better than their current composite, while nearly 96 per cent stated Venus Pearl offers a higher gloss than their current material. Colour matching to natural teeth was another area where the users rated Venus Pearl incredibly highly – with close to 100 per cent rating it as acceptable or higher, whether using just a Universal shade or a layering technique.
When taking the UK results alone the numbers are even more impressive – every single respondent rated the stickiness to the modelling instrument as acceptable or better, with an incredible 88.1 per cent believing it was good or excellent. When asked about the sculptability 97.62 per cent said Venus Pearl was acceptable to very convenient, with 88.33 per cent answering better than just acceptable. Modelling with a brush had a clean sweep with every single user reporting it to be acceptable or better. On the matter of consistency 92.69 per cent believed it to be as good as or better than their current material (these contained both Heraeus and non-Heraeus composites).
So in terms of consistency, handling, sculptability, polishability and time – Venus Pearl is a material which users feel is an improvement on their current composite. Perhaps the most satisfying statistic of all for Heraeus is that 94 per cent of respondents would recommend Venus Pearl to colleagues.
Reviews
Whilst statistics are useful guides personal recommendations are more likely to be a motivating factor to test a new product. Some leading UK dentists have tried Venus Pearl and given it the thumbs up.
Jason Smithson is a GDP with a special interest in aesthetic and restorative dentistry, he practises at the Pure Dental Health & Wellbeing, Truro. As well as practising dentistry Jason has also lectured internationally and is a clinical lecturer at the Peninsula Dental School, and so he speaks with some authority when he says, 'Venus Pearl is a great product, it handles really well and doesn't stick to instruments. The non-slump characteristics mean you can accurately place material to achieve outstanding aesthetic results. I especially like the AM enamel shade which produces a subtle orange halo which really makes the incisal edge pop.'
Jason isn't alone in singing Venus Pearl's praises, Sanjay Sethi is another fan. Sanjay works at Square Mile Dental Studio, London, lectures internationally, and runs hands on courses on the subject of composites. He says, 'Venus Pearl offers superb performances and aesthetics. It has the same backbone chemistry and shading concept that has made Venus Diamond so successful. Venus Pearl is a nano-filled composite that can be polished with ease to a high long lasting lustre. The consistency is softer for ease of handling, often preferable, especially when layering anterior composites.'
So the experts agree with the field-test results, that the handling of Venus Pearl is better than that of previous Venus releases but the new material retains the qualities expected from the Venus brand. Add that to the impressive polishability of Venus Pearl, it means the product not only makes the dentist's work easier and quicker it makes the final restoration much more pleasing for the patient too.
Some dentists will be happy with their current composite and perhaps question the need to change. They might be happy working with something which might be less convenient to handle and perhaps not polish as well. But will they be happy telling their patients they are making-do though or will they want to give their patients the best? Those who want to keep up with the latest advances and deliver high quality aesthetic restorations should try Venus Pearl and see if it can make a difference for their patients.
For competition details please refer to The Dentist June 2012 issue.