A single-use, single-handed polishing strip for interproximal polishing of a composite restoration
You don’t often think of dairy products or silverware when describing dental products, but that’s exactly how Dr. Frank Glushefski explained the impressive polishing ability of the new FLASH dental polishing strips. “Like a hot knife through butter, the coarse grit strip adequately provided a most satisfactory embrasure space, while the descending degrees of grit allowed for polishing of utmost perfection,” Dr. Glushefski said.
With FLASH Single-Use Polishing Strips, Johnson Promident has sought to “single handedly” change the way dentists polish composite. Designed to be used with only one hand, the strips ensure that interproximal polishing of a composite restoration can be accomplished effectively and efficiently. Their efficiency, according to Dr. Glushefski, greatly reduced his chair time and stress, and he declared, “This product is a winner!”
Dr. Glushefski was just one member of a team of dentists who tried the FLASH Single-Use Polishing Strips for several weeks as part of this DPS product evaluation.
Single-Handed Design and Ease of Access
The innovative handle of the FLASH dental polishing strips is designed for quick and easy interproximal access, optimal control, and reduced hand fatigue. Dr. Barton Barre said the one-handed application was his favorite feature and it saved him time. He called the strips “critical for any Class III restoration.” While Dr. Marc Gottlieb said the strips were easy to hold, he noted that he was sometimes challenged with tight contacts, which is something he has experienced with other products.
Hoping to overcome the clumsiness of polishing posterior teeth, Dr. Mark Danziger was pleased to discover that the FLASH polishing strips were short, easy to grip, and easy to use. For Dr. Barry Morse, the strips were “nice for gingival margin of anterior teeth” but sometimes flexed too much and either tore or came detached from the holder. Just like with other polishing strips, the mylar material is sometimes prone to tearing. The handle was Dr. Cheryl Bingham’s favorite feature and she said it reduced the time needed to finish interproximal composites. “I really liked the strips and the way they operate,” she noted.
Finishing and Polishing Results
Johnson Promident designed the thin, flexible, precision-coated aluminum oxide strips to conform to the tooth’s contour to produce a smooth polish for life-like results on all types of composites. The FLASH strips easily polish interproximal areas, according to Dr. Marc Herman, who lauded their ease of use and polishability. Calling the strips easy to handle, Dr. Barre found that they easily smoothed and polished interproximal margins, and Dr. Bingham said the strips work great when there is overlapping anterior teeth.
Dr. Mark Taira shared, “It improved our ability [to do] interproximal reductions in ortho cases.” One dentist found a different use for the strips—removing stains in contact areas. “They removed difficult tea stains,” Dr. Basem Airood noted.
Dr. Glushefski shared a case where a previously placed composite restoration had been in perfect marginal condition with exacting shade match yet had a slightly over-contoured emergence profile. After finishing and polishing with FLASH teeth polishing kit, he shared, “Through the use of the polishing strips in descending order of coarseness, I was able to salvage the restoration and save the patient a restoration fee.” He said the patient was excited and appreciative of the results and called the FLASH dental polishing strips “clearly a great practice builder.”
