Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels offer clinicians a versatile spiral shape that adapts to all tooth surfaces as an alternative to traditional points, cups, discs, and brushes.
An evaluator from Virginia, who has been in practice for 13 years, summarized her evaluation of Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels, “The shape easily accesses the pits/grooves in tooth anatomy.” This evaluator gave the product an overall rating of excellent and said she would probably purchase it in the future and recommend it to colleagues.
According to 3M, the single-use dental finishing and polishing wheels have a simple 2-step system. Dentists can use Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing Wheels to remove minor scratches and prepare the surface for high gloss polishing. Then, Sof-Lex Spiral Polishing Wheels can be used to complete the procedure, creating a smooth, high-gloss, natural-looking surface.
Ease of Use
Manufacturer Description: The single-use dental finishing and polishing wheels have a simple 2-step system. With a single shape, and with no water-cooling necessary, dentists can use these dental finishing and polishing wheels from any angle and quickly achieve a lifelike luster.
Evaluator Feedback: When asked what they liked best about the product, 5 evaluators specifically mentioned “ease of use.” A North Carolina dentist who liked ease of use best said the discs are “efficient and require fewer shapes, thus reducing inventory.” A Pennsylvania dentist commented that the Sof-Lex wheels were “ready to use and easy,” while another evaluator stated that “handling takes time to learn.”
Adaptability
Manufacturer Description: Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels are designed with flexible spiral “fingers” that adapt to all anterior and posterior surfaces. The fingers of the wheels conform to convex and concave surfaces as they move across the restoration, so there is no need to switch shapes during the procedure to fit various contours.
Evaluator Feedback: An evaluator from Chicago with 30 years of experience said, “I liked the way it seemed to get in to all of the small tough to contact parts of the restorations,” and a Minnesota evaluator said, “The wheels adapt well to different anatomical features.”
An evaluator with 25 years of experience liked the product’s “adaptability into concave and convex surfaces,” while another dentist would like to see “better adaptation for anterior teeth.” When asked what he liked best about Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels, a Michigan dentist replied, “I liked the ease of getting into difficult areas.”
Gloss/Luster
Manufacturer Description: Abrasive particles are embedded throughout the finishing and polishing wheels, so effective finishing and polishing can be achieved from any side—top, bottom, or edge.
Evaluator Feedback: The Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels are “excellent for interproximal polishing, it fills that niche perfectly,” said a Virginia evaluator with 28 years of experience. When asked what they liked best about the product, one evaluator replied “the glossy finish it creates,” another liked that it “polishes on all surfaces of the disc,” and a third evaluator liked the “interproximal polishing for class 4 restorations.”
A Virginia dentist said “I like the way you can polish different angles much easier than [a similar product from another manufacturer],” while another dentist would like to “add pumice impregnation on final polishing.”
Overall Satisfaction
Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent or very good by 11 of the evaluators, and 79% would probably or definitely recommend the product to colleagues. A New Jersey evaluator summed up his experience with the 3M Sof-Lex Finishing and Polishing Wheels by saying, “Simple and effective. Best I have ever used. Already ordered in bulk for our practice.”
