Calamus Dual 3D Obturation System
DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties
By combining Pack and Flow, Calamus Dual provides convenience and ease of use.
The Calamus Dual 3D obturation system from DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties is designed for convenience, ease of use, and effectiveness. The system combines the backfill and downpack handpieces into one unit to aid in easy practice integration and space savings.
Ten current users of the Calamus Dual 3D Obturation System participated in this Dental Product Shopper evaluation. They rated such items as ease of use, convenience, and ergonomics.
Ease of Use and Convenience
A hallmark of the Calamus Dual system is its ease of use. The Pack and Flow handpieces are conveniently positioned side-by-side, so that the user can move between them smoothly without interrupting the procedure. The Pack can be used to create an effective apical plug, and the Flow can be used to deliver gutta-percha backfill at the right temperature and flow rate.
When asked about the ease of use of the Calamus Dual system, 4 evaluators rated it as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, 2 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair. One evaluator said that he would like to see a “quicker heat up time.” A second evaluator noted that the heating tips “tend to slip off when wiping off gutta-percha.” Another evaluator noted that the system’s simplicity was what he liked best about the Calamus Dual.
The evaluators were then asked to rate the convenience of having the backfill and downpack handpieces com bined into a single unit. Five rated convenience as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, 1 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair. One of the evaluators said that having the “heating element and obturation piece in one unit” is his favorite feature of Calamus. Another evaluator noted the “integrated heat and backfill device” as what he likes best about the system.
Ease of clean up and maintenance were rated as excellent by 5 evaluators, as very good by 3, and as good by 2. One evaluator noted ease of maintenance as one of his favorite features of the Calamus Dual.
Practice Integration
According to the manufacturer, the Calamus Dual is simple to set up and incorporate into the dental practice. In addition, its streamlined and esthetic design means that it takes up minimal counter space.
All the evaluators said that ease of practice integration is important or very important to them when purchasing an obturation system. The evaluators were then asked to rate the Calamus Dual on ease of integration into the practice. Four evaluators rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good. One of the evaluators commented that the unit was well accepted by his staff and that it has become “a useful tool in our practice.”
Handpiece Ergonomics
The Calamus Dual handpieces are ergonomically designed for comfort. In addition, the 360° cuff on each handpiece is de scribed by the manufacturer as easy to activate.
Handpiece ergonomics were de - scribed by all of the evaluators as very important or important to them when purchasing an obturation system. When asked about the ergonomic design of the Calamus Dual handpieces. 5 rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as very good, 2 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair. One evaluator said, “The wand allows for easier placement into the mouth, especially in difficult to reach areas.”
Overall Satisfaction
All of the evaluators said they would definitely or probably recommend Calamus Dual to their colleagues. When asked to give an overall satisfaction rating of the system, 4 rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as fair. One evaluator said, “The Calamus Dual reduced the overall space needed for [2 other] systems. It has been a good replacement for those 2 machines.”
