Why I Use…Directa Solutions

Author
By: Dental Product Shopper
2/6/2025

One dentist shares how a computer-assisted anesthesia device, a pen-style periotome, and an atraumatic extraction system save time and improve the patient experience

 

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NEVILLE HATFIELD, DMD, MBS

Dr. Hatfield graduated magna cum laude from Boston University School of Dental Medicine and completed a General Practice Residency at the Manhattan Veterans Affairs Hospital, where he provided interspecialty comprehensive prosthetic and surgical treatment to military veterans. Dr. Hatfield takes a special interest in providing the highest quality of dental care to his patients and actively participates in as many continuing education courses as possible. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, and New Jersey Dental Association.

 

Dentists are natural problem solvers, but identifying the root cause is just the beginning. That’s what Dr. Neville Hatfield appreciates most about Directa USA—the company is on a constant mission to find products that tackle common clinical challenges. And in his Mahwah, NJ, general practice, that's exactly what the Calaject, Luxator, and Physics Forceps product lines do. Here, he shares how this unique trio aligns with his own mission to become a “super GP” and deliver more dentistry to his patients safely and efficiently.

 

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I don't go a single day in dentistry without numbing someone, which is why the Calaject computer-assisted anesthesia device has been a game chang­er in my practice. It’s really transformed my patients' experience, especially for those who are needle-phobic or anxious. Calaject makes it predictable to get patients numb quickly and effectively. It’s user-friendly, compatible with any injection technique (including blocks, infiltrations, and PDL injections), and works with the needles and anesthetic you already have in your office. Calaject controls the pressure and delivery speed of the anesthetic, which allows for a pain-free administration. I often find that as soon as I'm done administering the local anesthetic, I'm ready to work. 

 

With many of us juggling multiple operatories and several procedures, it's important to slow down and take our time for our patients, and that's exactly what Calaject does. It removes the guesswork and lets me deliver anesthesia in an efficient, pain-free way. 

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Luxator Periotomes

 

Despite their name, Luxator Periotomes aren't used in the luxation movement. They have really sharp, thin blades that go along the root surface parallel to the tooth to instead cut the periodontal ligament. I find them very useful when extracting anteriors, premolars, or individual roots of teeth, or in any situation where I’m trying to preserve bone, prevent trauma, or be more efficient with extractions.

 

For colleagues wanting to perform an immediate implant placement, these instruments allow for preservation of bone and tissue with the least amount of trauma to the surgical site. The Luxator P-Series is a recent favorite; these smaller pen-grip instruments are great when you need to be very precise. 

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Physics Forceps

 

The biggest downfall of traditional forceps is that they’re difficult to use on severely com­promised teeth. If you apply too much force, the tooth ends up snapping and crumbling in your hand. The Physics Forceps are unique in that they utilize the concepts of a first-class lever. They slowly and deliberately apply force to the teeth, which causes a buildup of hyaluronic acid in the periodontal ligament space. That acid builds and builds, eventually weakening the ligament fibers until you feel a pop and the tooth is freely moving within the bone.

 

I like to use Physics Forceps on very broken-down teeth that are well beneath the gumline. Patients tend to find them a bit more comfortable since you're not moving your arm back and forth or cranking their head. You just put a slow and steady pressure on the area, which works very well in achieving an atraumatic extraction and improves the experience for the patient.

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