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Dynamics Sep 08 20/8/08 09:02 Page 21ArtioQuixFilWhat are ArtioInstruments?An alternative to AmalgamHand fatigue can be a real problem in dentistry – and isn’t justconfined to dental hygienists. DENTSPLY recognised this whenthey developed the Artio range of hand instruments in closeconsultation with clinicians.The resulting range includes the most popular restorative and periodontal instruments with super-lighthandles and durable steel tips. Restorative shapes include plastics, carvers, pluggers and burnishers,and Periodontal instruments include scalers, hoes, Gracey, Langer and Columbia curettes. Essentially,Artio supplies everything you need on a day-to-day basis, and at an affordable price.Great care was taken in selecting the best materials to use in making Artio. The range has incrediblydurable steel tips developed under a special cryogenic process. This process means there are no harderstainless steel tips on the market; and the hardest steel tips DENTSPLY has even produced.The resin handle has also been designed to be one of the lightest available, yet is strong and resilientenough to withstand even the toughest sterilisation regimen, and if fully compliant with HTM 2010 andHTM 2030.For more information, or to book an appointment with your local DENTSPLY specialist to view the range,call +44 (0)800 072 3313 (Ash).Before, with amalgam After, with QuiXfil QuiXfil compulesOn January 1st 2008, Norway and Sweden banned the use of dental amalgam. While it isgenerally agreed that it is safe in the mouth, mercury released post-mortem is causing healthand environmental concerns. Dental Practice quoted Erik Solheim, the Norwegian minister forthe environment; “mercury is among the most dangerous of environmental toxins. Satisfactoryalternatives to mercury in products are available.”Focus onMouth CancerDENTSPLY is proud to support the Mouth CancerFoundation with its Artio range of hand instruments.For every Artio instrument sold, 50p is donated to theMouth Cancer Foundation.With Mouth Cancer Awareness Week from 16th-22nd November, ensure you have theinformation you need on Mouth Cancer, and how to detect it.This is the general term given to a variety of malignant tumours that develop in the mouth(oral cavity), throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), salivary glands, nose and sinuses. In the UK,mouth cancer kills more people than cervical cancer and testicular cancer combined.Once discovered, treatment options vary and will depend on how early the cancer isdiagnosed or detected. Removal of the tumour, followed by radiotherapy may be suitablefor smaller tumours; chemotherapy is required in more advanced cases. The long-termsurvival rate is only 50% after 5 years, but early detection greatly improves prognosis.Risk Factors include Tobacco, Alcohol and types of the Human Papillomavirus, a groupof sexually transmitted viruses.Mouth Cancer FactsMouth cancer is one of the top ten most commonlydiagnosed cancers and accounts for more than7,800 new cases each yearIncidence has risen by 25% over the past 10 years5-year survival rate has not improved (50% overall)for the last few decades except in specialisedcancer centresMouth cancer is more common in men than women.However, the sex ratio in the UK has decreasedrapidly from around 5:1 fifty years ago to less than2:1 todayCommon symptomsA sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not healwithin three weeksNumbness or a lump anywhere in the mouthA white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or liningof the mouthDifficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the jawor tongueThe timing of the ban in the UK is creeping closer, with a review dateof April 2009. Already, the use of amalgam is no longer taught in dental schools.The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported earlier this month that“silver-coloured metal dental fillings contain mercury that may cause healthproblems in pregnant women, children and foetuses”. As part of a lawsuit, theFDA agreed to alert consumers about the potential risks on its website and toissue a more specific rule next year for fillings that contain mercury.Fewer patients have been opting for mercury fillings in the US in recent years,instead choosing lighter options, such as tooth-coloured resin composites.Composite fillings are now comparable to amalgam in strength and longevity,and further still satisfy the increasing demand from patients for an aestheticend result.QuiXfil is DENTSPLY’s alternative to amalgam, offering the perfect balanceof performance and price. It is indicated for Class I and II cavities, when safetyand performance are to be combined with a fast and efficient application.Advances in TechnologyGround-breaking advances in technology ensures durability, low shrinkageand speed of placement with QuiXfil:• The highest possible filler loading (66% by volume and 86% by weight)with a consistency that can be easily extruded from a compule andprovides high resistance to wear• Low material shrinkage at just 1.7%, for minimal post-proceduralsensitivity and longevity of restorations• A maximum depth of cure in just 10 seconds for 4mm increments,and prolonged working time of up to 100 secondsAffordable Alternative• QuiXfil is available in one universal shade which demonstratesa chameleon effect for great aesthetics, yet minimal inventory• 0.28g per compule of QuiXfil, 12% more material than some othercompule brands meaning “more for your money”In this changing market, patients expect more from their restorative treatments,even when it comes to posterior fillings. If you want to be prepared forthis demand, contact your local DENTSPLY Product Specialist to try QuiXfilfor yourself.20DENTSPLY Dynamics | September - December 2008www.dentsply.co.uk21