Product Evaluation

ContacEZ

PrepSure by ContacEZ

Three crown prep instruments are used to monitor, achieve, and confirm adequate occlusal clearance for crowns and onlays—eliminating the guesswork from crown preparations

Sometimes, you don’t know what you’re missing until it’s right there in front of you. Or in the case of Dr. Craig Smith, you don’t know what’s been missing from your crown preparation routine until you review a product for DPS. “PrepSure is a product I didn’t realize I needed,” proclaimed Dr. Smith after testing Directa Dental’s PrepSure by ContacEZ. A set of innovative crown preparation instruments that are used to monitor, achieve, and confirm ideal creation of abutments for crowns and onlays, PrepSure “makes tooth reduction for crowns and onlays predictable,” Dr. Smith declared.

Promoting Adequate Occlusal Clearance

When preparing for a crown, dentists often need to evaluate the amount of occlusal clearance with the naked eye, which can lead to inadequate clearance. With PrepSure, clinicians can achieve ideal abutments with proper occlusal, buccal, lingual, and marginal clearance—improving the crown preparation process.

“PrepSure enabled me to verify there was adequate clearance simply by passing the instrument over the prepared tooth,” shared Dr. Adam Beno, who called it “a simple way to verify adequate tooth reduction for crown and bridge preparations.” Describing the instruments as easy to use, Dr. Christina Do said they “help measure the necessary clearance for crown preparations,” and Dr. David Martin noted, “PrepSure allows verification of reduction to achieve easier and long-lasting restorations.”

Integrating PrepSure into the crown preparation routine will reduce stress and remove the guesswork from preparations, according to Directa Dental. “PrepSure enabled me to check easily that the prep was prepared with enough clearance,” shared Dr. Carl Sakamaki. “I did not need to check axial reduction, but where it helped the most was with 2nd molar crown preps on the occlusal clearance,” he added. Explaining that “occlusal clearance is an enduring issue in dentistry and is consequential in successful crown preparations,” Dr. David Buchina determined that “PrepSure abated the guesswork and definitively provided an exacting solution.” Dr. David Mastrota said these instruments gave him more confidence for reduction, and Dr. Martin decided, “There was less stress during preparations to make sure [there was] sufficient reduction for a long-lasting restoration.”

Instrument Design

With a color-coded design and 3 sizes—1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm—PrepSure simplifies instrument selection and ensures proper minimal material thickness for all crown materials. Designed for maximum convenience, PrepSure has a double-ended design with mesial and distal end tips and comes in 2 different color themes—modern and classic. “The color-coded handles are nice, and reaching the posteriors with the provided handles is easily accomplished without compromising your ergonomics by bending and tilting your head when trying to visually confirm adequate tooth reduction,” Dr. Beno commented. While Dr. Beno said it would be nice to have additional size options like 0.5 mm, Dr. Cheryl Bingham appreciated the 3 sizes included in the kit. Dr. Donald Jetter liked the color coding for each instrument size and said PrepSure is “very well designed and uncomplicated” to use. Dr. Buchina called PrepSure “a well thought out design and superbly engineered,” and Dr. Do appreciates that the reusable instruments are not wasteful to the environment.

“PrepSure enabled me to check easily that the prep was prepared with enough clearance.”
— Carl Sakamaki, DDS; Denver, CO

Time Savings

Using PrepSure to check occlusal clearance helps prevent a second impression or digital scan and avoids over-reduction of tooth structure, saving both patients and practitioners valuable time. “PrepSure makes tooth reduction predictable and verifiable, eliminating the need for additional scans or impressions due to insignificant tooth reduction, and standardizing tooth reduction for crowns and inlays between multiple providers,” Dr. Smith commented. Multiple dentists cited ease of use and time savings as their favorite features, with Dr. Jetter calling PrepSure “simple, straightforward, and easy to use, saving time and preventing second-guessing during crown preparation.” Dr. Martin agreed as he was “able to verify the reduction of the tooth much more quickly and accurately” when using PrepSure.

Dr. Sarah Kong found that PrepSure “increased efficiency and workflow” in her office, and Dr. Christopher Esposito said PrepSure “helped systemize reduction.” Stating that PrepSure “reduced the number of secondary preparations” he needed to perform, Dr. Craig Ratner said he did not “need to go back after scanning and reprep to fix discrepancies in optimal clearance.” In a case with an anxious patient, Dr. Bingham said PrepSure “allowed us to perform the prep rapidly and finish with minimal agitation,” reducing chair time.

Overall Satisfaction

Rating his overall satisfaction as excellent, Dr. Martin concluded, “PrepSure is a well-designed addition to my everyday crown preparation setup.” After using PrepSure for many procedures, Dr. Buchina disclosed, “It will be part of my armamentarium on a regular basis. It is a simple concept yet a complex accomplishment for dentistry.”

Takeaways

• Double-ended crown preparation instruments take the guesswork out of crown preps

• Available in 3 sizes—1, 1.5, & 2 mm—and in 2 sets of colors

• Autoclavable and reusable to reduce waste

• Prevents a second impression or scan

• Helps avoid over-reduction of tooth structure