Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

A fter your three days at the BDTA Showcase, what do you see are the biggest differences between UK and Danish/European Dentistry? The biggest difference seems to be that UK dentists mainly work with the dental unit instruments (delivery sys- tem, as you call it) placed at the right side of the patient. This is far away from the working field in the patient’s mouth. This po- sition is analogous to placing a car’s gearstick behind the driv- er, in between the backseats. What are the disadvantages of using an instrument delivery system on the right side of the patient? The disadvantages become ob- vious when you understand that our work needs both concentra- tion and precision; disturbances to this should be avoided. The objective of a dentist’s work should be to work with un- disturbed concentration on the working field, without having to look or reach away. This is not possible with an instrument de- livery system on the right side of the patient. First, when the dentist is working in the 9 o’clock posi- tion, looking at the patient’s teeth from the right side, the unit’s instruments are placed almost behind them. Secondly, the unit’s instruments cannot be reached by the assistant in order to be prepared and transferred by them to the dentist. The as- sistance is therefore “amputat- ed” and the dentist has to look and reach away to pick up and place the instruments back – regardless of the dentist’s work- ing position. Where should the units’ in- struments be placed? The units’ instruments should be placed centrally in a bal- anced delivery system over the patient, between the assistant and dentist, allowing the work- flow to be improved. Then, from any sitting posi- tion (9, 10, 11, 12 o’clock), the dentist can pick up the unit’s instruments with a finger using their peripheral vision, without having to look away from the patient’s mouth. Secondly, the assistant can change contra-angles, mount burs and diamonds, use the 3-in-1 syringe and pass the unit’s instruments to the hand of the dentist. Finally, the unit’s instru- ments can be supported bal- anced, so that the dentist’s hand is liberated from carrying all the instrument’s weight in his hand, thus aiding precision. What is the reaction of the patient to a centralised instru- ment delivery system? When the patient is lying down the unit’s instruments cannot be seen by the patient. However, the dentist’s head is very visible. When the dentist is working tradition- ally, their head and eyes will move back and forth more than 100 times while making a composite-filling, for exam- ple. The patient perceives this as disturbing and distracting, because it appears that the con- centration cannot be held; this is not “calming” for the patient. However, when working with a central instrument de- livery system, the patient per- Heka Dental - calm, concentrated, focused… Herluf Skovsgaard talks about ergonomics and four-handed dentistry page 26DTà 25AdvertorialJanuary 23-28, 2012United Kingdom Edition Baldershøj 38 · DK-2635 Ishøj · Denmark Telephone:+45 4332 0990 Fax:+45 4332 0980 Email: mail@heka-dental.dk www.heka-dental.com UNIC - combines aesthetic beauty with ergonomic efficiency Easy to use technology creates a simple working procedure. UnicLine - Flexibility and individual design Design your own package. Choose from more than 200 options. DB Dental Equipment Limited · 53 Smithy Carr Lane · Brighouse West Yorkshire · HD6 4BG Telephone: 01484 401015 · Fax: 01484 401018 Email: sales@dbdental.co.uk www.dbdental.co.uk EQUIPMENT FROM HEKA DENTAL Free Herluf Skovsgaard Seminar Dentistry Show March 2nd & 3rd Contact DB Dental for details