Dental Units - recommendations please

Re: Dental Units - recommendations please

Rob Davis — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:46:09 GMT

I agreed entirely with Evelyn's comprehensive reply.

We purchased an IM3 machine around 3-4 years ago and love it. I did buy the fibreoptic illuminated high speed handpiece and would struggle without it now. Maintenance is key with any machine as others have stated.

I was initially using our old cavitron scaler with it, but tragically it expired with a loud bang and a puff of smoke a few months ago. This gave me an excuse to buy the 42-12 scaler from IM3 which is streets ahead of anything else I have used (I tried very hard not to cheer when the old scaler died!).

I have just returned from a week long dentistry course in Sweden. One of the things we were taught was to use a low speed handpiece for removing bone (I have previously always used the high speed). I am currently playing about with trying to rig up a drip line to the low speed handpiece to provide irrigation, but will be saving up for a low speed with integral irrigatiion (and ideally illumination too...).

Re: Dental Units - recommendations please

Samantha Hendy — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:54:15 GMT

Each dental machine available is relevant, but it is the vets requirements, earning potential, maintenance and cost which is the deciding factor.

At KRUUSE we offer the iM3 units, and they come in various models, with or without LED lights. If you would like some information on these, or trial one to see how it 'fits' with what you are looking for then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Re: Dental Units - recommendations please

Ian Mostyn — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:48:00 GMT

I would put in a vote for the Burtons Vetair system. We got one 8 years ago and it works well for us. Just found a small leak in one of the compressor pipes, rang them 2:30pm Friday and they are coming to fix it 8am Monday. They have always looked after us with servicing but I suspect regular maintenance helps with any unit. Not a dentistry expert though, I just like my unit.

Ian

Re: Dental Units - recommendations please

Iain McAllister — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:37:37 GMT

Thanks EBH fantastic reply!

Re: Dental Units - recommendations please

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:50:18 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]I'd humbly suggest reliability and efficiency longterm has as much to do with how well you look after and maintain and service the equipment, as to exactly what you buy?[/quote]

By gum I would second that. On the other hand some machines really are better designed and built than others and you can't always tell from the outside.

Always buy from a supplier who actually understands dentistry, not from one that's just flogging these machines.

Roots will do you a good no-frills machine and incorporate any custom requirements you may have (within reason). Being a small family firm they will be quick off the mark if you need any repairs. On the other hand the one type of scaler they cannot plumb in to the machine is the iM3, and I'm suggesting that the iM3 scaler is what you should get unless you really really cannot afford it.

Vet Inst used to be good with repairs and service, but I've not dealt with them for a while and this may have changed.

The iM3 units from Kruuse are arguably the best, but at a price. Kruuse will customise a unit for you to suit most special requirements. Little things, like the valves being cartridges that you can replace yourself, are notable advantages. Lots of thought seems to have gone into the design of these machines.

Also consider: do you want an oil-filled or oil-less compressor? Do you want to be able to take the compressor off and have it remote? Is the compressor designed to avoid the need for expensive pressure-vessel insurance and a Written Scheme of Examination?

Also: what after-sale service is offered, both for maintenance and unexpected breakdown? Does it involve returning the unit, or will the engineer call, and if so how promptly?

I'm surprised how many suppliers advertise their units with detailed promotion of the handpieces they supply therewith. A unit is a machine for driving handpieces and you should be able to attach whatever handpieces you choose.

Handpieces: pay the extra, if you can, for swivel connectors. Your work will improve and you will never want to go back to struggling with tubing drag.

Illumination (whether fibre optic or LED) is a luxury well worth it if you can afford it, and will notably improve your precision doing cavity preparations and finishing restorations. The handpiece with a little generator inside it running LEDs is probably taking over from the fibre-optic illumination, and avoids the need for electrical connections, bulb failure and so on; the minor disadvantage is that the light is only on when the handpiece is running. On the other hand, good theatre lighting can be almost as good. You don't need an illuminated low-speed contra-angle unless you are doing high-quality restorations. However the illuminated low-speed straight handpiece (from iM3 again......), although a little cumbersome, will improve your rabbit dentistry.

Quality handpieces cost a lot of money but they are good value. If you go for cheap handpieces, go for really cheap and throw them away when they fail.

If the design of the unit allows the later addition of a couple more handpieces or other devices, that's an advantage.

All the suppliers seem to regard the provision of suction as a selling point. I think it's irrelevant. Suction should be operated by the nurse, so I say the suction unit should be over the other side on or near the anaesthetic machine. Self-contained suction units are cheap.

Re: Dental Units - recommendations please

Rob Loxley — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:37:37 GMT

http://www.vetsurgeon.org/forums/t/3616.aspx

We have a previous model from Roots which has served well, and a separate (but plumbed in to the same water supply & foot-switch) ultrasonic scaler.

I'd humbly suggest reliability and efficiency longterm has as much to do with how well you look after and maintain and service the equipment, as to exactly what you buy?