Brasseler’s Feather Lite polishers give restorations a smooth enamel-like finish using a unique flexible spiral design.
Ever wondered if it would be possible to simplify the process of polishing restorations by reducing the number of steps involved and producing a better finish? That’s what a group of Dental Product Shopper evaluators sought to find out when they agreed to test the DiaComp Feather Lite Polishing System in their practices for several weeks as part of this product evaluation.
Dr. John Rowe said he was looking for a better method of finishing and adjusting provisional and definitive indirect restorations. He would find that the Feather Lite polishers streamlined the porcelain polishing process. He said his procedures were quicker and easier because he had this “quality product on hand in a well-organized block.” Dr. John Andre was also hoping to increase his polishing efficiency and said the Feather Lite polishers allowed for faster finishing, reducing what had been a 4-step process with his current finishing discs to just two steps.
For this evaluation, our team of dentists tried three different sets of DiaComp Feather Lite polishers—one for intraoral composite (DiaComp), one for porcelain (Dialite), and one for CAD/CAM restorations (polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA]). Read why this unique finishing and polishing system was deemed a Best Product.
Design and Functionality
“I love the design of the polisher,” shared Dr. Carlos Barrero, who added, “The vented design works better.” He also liked the larger diameter of the straight polishers and called them “more efficient.” The Feather Lite polishers feature flexible spirals that separate and “feather” out. This design allows the polisher to easily adapt to any tooth surface and quickly restores a lifelike finish, according to Brasseler.
Dr. Byron Davis said he was looking for a “universal polisher that can polish an entire crown without having to use different shaped polishers,” and the design of the Feather Lite composite polishers enabled him to accomplish that. “The design of the polishers allows them to polish grooves and flat surfaces on crowns,” reported Dr. Davis. He said they were somewhat delicate if run at high speeds, but concluded that they save time polishing, which speeds up chair time.
Calling it a much gentler yet effective system for porcelain based crown adjustments, Dr. Laura Lam would like to see a carrier for the composite system that’s labeled like the porcelain system. Dr. Ken Bendik said the shape of the wheel was his favorite feature, and he found the system better and easier to use than others, especially when doing occlusal adjustment intraorally. Even his patients noticed the difference, with one patient reporting significantly less vibrations.
Adaptability and Variety of Sizes & Grits
Designed to adapt to different surfaces, the DiaComp Feather Lite polishers have excellent adaptability and flexibility, according to Dr. Varo Boyer. Dr. Marino Polack said he would like better flexibility, while Dr. Davis said the adaptability to polish all surfaces of an adjusted crown was his favorite feature. Calling them good-quality polishers, Dr. Lisa Curry was impressed that they held up after multiple uses, while Dr. Andre would like to see them last longer.
Although the evaluators liked the variety of sizes and grits available, some of them recommended an even smaller head size for posterior intraoral use. Dr. R.J. Sondkar praised the “gradient choices in the finishing system that you can use and adapt to very easily,” and Dr. Boyer said the color coding helped him and his assistants easily identify which polishers to use and in what sequence.
Quality of Final Polishing
Calling the composite polishers easy to use, Dr. Rowe noted, “The intraoral and extraoral polishing kits came in very handy for finishing and polishing after adjustments.” He praised their great polishing result and finish, especially for CEREC cases when hand-polishing produces a better finish than glazing alone.
Dr. Boyer used both the porcelain and composite polishers and was impressed that he could restore the smooth surface and shine to restorations. “Patients said their restorations were very smooth and they did not feel roughness or edges after polishing,” Dr. Boyer added. Dr. Sondkar also said his patients were “very satisfied with the smooth end finish that matched very well with their natural dentition.” When polishing layer lithium disilicate, Dr. Barrero saw great results, and he also said it allowed for “better polishing of porcelain surfaces.”
Overall Satisfaction
Almost all of the evaluators said they would recommend the Feather Lite polishing system to their colleagues, including Dr. Sondkar, who concluded, “[The Feather Lite is a] well-designed polishing system which adequately addresses the finishing process effectively.” He added, “It gave me more confidence in accomplishing predictable good end finish results.” Dr. Boyer summed up his thoughts by saying, “[Feather Lite] helps to maintain high quality of service and products in cases where adjustments and polishing is needed.”
