The Sound of Smarter IPR

Few orthodontic procedures make patients as anxious as interproximal reduction. For Michael Ragan, DDS, a Dallas, TX, orthodontist with over 25 years in practice, a vivid example comes to mind: "Every time we were going to do IPR, one of my patients would wear workout gear because she knew she was going to sweat," he shared.

Admittedly, it wasn't his favorite procedure to perform, either. "I used to dread IPR because it would take up so much time, and patients would make me stop in the middle due to discomfort," he explained.

From Dread to Confidence

That all changed when he was introduced to the smartIPR system, invented by Dr. M. Florman and exclusively available through Henry Schein. "It made life so much easier," he said, "for my patients and for me."

Before switching to smartIPR, Dr. Ragan relied on traditional hand strips. Although gentle, they were "so time-consuming," and the repeated manual force often caused the patient's head to move while working through tight contacts. Rotary disks were more efficient but required guards to shield soft tissues, and the slightest misstep risked damaging teeth. "It was a nightmare," Dr. Ragan said.

smartIPR uses an oscillating handpiece that sonically vibrates between teeth contacts and creates space without cutting.

Sonic Vibration Eases Patient Fears

Dr. Ragan compares smartIPR's concept to the oscillating saws used in medical settings. "If you've ever wondered, 'How can they remove a cast without cutting you?'—it's similar technology," he explained. He's found that this analogy, paired with a brief demonstration, quickly puts patient fears to rest.

Dr. Ragan uses the smartIPR tool on his own finger and asks patients, "Do you trust me?" They respond, "Can I see your finger?" When he shows them, their eyes widen in amazement.

While IPR usually involves swapping instruments mid-procedure, smartIPR handles left, right, and double-sided contacts with its unique 3-in-1 segmented smartDISKS.

"That's taking your chair time down significantly," Dr. Ragan said. With 4 disk sizes and 3 segments each, smartIPR effectively gives clinicians 12 instruments in 1 system.

Precision in the Toughest Spots

Up to 100 times faster than traditional hand-strip motion,* smartIPR improves control in the toughest spots, including anterior and posterior contacts.

"You know exactly where the contact is," Dr. Ragan said, "and the handpiece has enough energy that, as soon as you turn it on, the disk goes right through."

IPRGlide, the system's lubrication gel, adds convenience and comfort—reducing friction and heat while delivering fluoride to rebuild enamel. "Especially for those really tight contacts," he added, "IPRGlide helps me get the job done."

For any clinician considering smartIPR, "the learning curve is minimal and I no longer dread doing IPR," Dr. Ragan concluded.

_{*Dependent on slow-speed motor settings}