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The i2 Dryfield Illuminator is My Dental Assisting Handbag
Sometimes I enjoy reminiscing about yesterday’s advances in dentistry, which once seemed so cutting-edge, and comparing them with today’s latest technologies. Ah, those were the days…of cotton-roll, dry-angle, and rubber-dam isolation, plus the ever-popular aspirating tongue retractor, which I believe has been placed in the dental artifact museum, thank goodness.
Today, isolation is still one of our main objectives during dental procedures. While a third hand is not a written requirement to work as a dental assistant, many times it seems as if it is a crucial qualification. How often have we been asked to retract, suction, pass instruments, and mix cements at the same time? And while we are doing our very best, the dentist is tapping her foot with impatience and with gentle jest remarks, "So it seems you could benefit from growing a third hand." You look up for 2 seconds with your biggest winning smile underneath your mask, and ever so sweetly reply, "Why yes, Doctor, so it does." With that motivation, I have grown a third hand…or at least the dental equipment equivalent.
One of my best accessories, the Isolite Dryfield Illuminator (Isolite Systems, Santa Barbara, CA), is comparable with my favorite handbag.Just think how difficult it would be to get through the day without a handbag. How would we carry all of our necessities—lipstick, wallet, cell phone, etc? That’s how I would feel if my Isolite was taken away.
The Isolite is an amazing accessory that can make our jobs easier with its built-in cheek and tongue retractor, bite block, suction, and a comfortable mouthpiece illuminator. Because it is offered in four sizes, we are able to use this great tool on almost everyone. In my experience, only patients who are severe gaggers or claustrophobic may have difficulty with the Isolite.
Just when I thought Isolite couldn’t get any better, Isolite Systems improved it. The second generation i2 Dryfield Illuminator combines all the benefits of the original Isolite with toolbar-accessible, dual-channel vacuum control; one-button light-emitting diode control (including a cure-safe mode that will not set most composites); memory setting; timed auto-off function; and automatic temperature control. As most dental assistants know, when it comes to dental procedures, this type of efficiency is the key to success.
Figure 1 View Figure, Figure 2 View Figure
Patient Benefits
After a patient is seated, the assistant immediately introduces the i2 as one of our favorite new high-tech devices. Because most people are visual learners, the assistant tells the patient exactly what the i2 does and demonstrates all its bells and whistles. And because this is a what’s-in-it-for-me society, the assistant explains the patient benefits:
• It will protect your tongue.
• It will protect your cheek.
• It will hold your mouth open, so you do not have to.
• Its suction will help eliminate excess saliva.
• It will help reduce unpleasant tastes.
• It will help reduce unpleasant smells.
• It will help isolate the area being worked on and act as a barrier, giving the assistant the ability to remove big pieces with suction.
• Its special built-in light will help the dentist see better inside your mouth.
• It will help the dentist and the assistant be more time-efficient, because they know there are other places you would rather be today.
I suggest asking the patient if he or she would like to try this new piece of equipment to get a feel for how it will work. I have found that patients like to be given options because options help them feel they have some control. When explaining the benefits, you likely will find that patients are accepting of the Isolite, especially if they are going to be finished sooner than expected. Some of our patients request the Isolite, with nitrous oxide and headphones.
I also have discovered that pediatric patients enjoy seeing and touching this new toy. I allow these patients to turn on the various features to help familiarize them with the i2 and to help remove some anxiety.
Conclusion
If you aren’t using one of these wonderful accessories yet, I encourage you to talk with your dentist about the positive experiences my office has had with the i2. It is truly a wonderful addition to our high-tech practice, and streamlines many procedures. Hey, it may just become more valuable to you than this season’s big leather designer handbag.
Mouthpiece Placement
Placing the i2 is simple; however, like any new procedure, practice makes perfect. I suggest that you practice placing the mouthpiece on coworkers until you are able to accomplish placement in one smooth movement. It won’t take long to get the hang of it, and you will find it becomes as natural as any other frequently used procedure.
• Before REPLACE INTO ing, moisten the inside of the mouthpiece with Isolite lubricant.
• Attach the mouthpiece to the control head, making sure the locking bar is engaged.
• Lubricate the patient’s lips with Isolite lubricant and moisten the mouthpiece with the air–water syringe to make it easier to slide in.
• Holding the Isolite with a feather-light touch between the thumb and forefinger, position the isthmus at the corner of the mouth.
• Instruct the patient to open wide, and hold the cheek shield forward toward the tongue retractor and gently slide the isthmus into the cheek area to avoid contacting gag-sensitive areas.
• Continue to move the bite block forward to the center of the mouth, just behind the anterior teeth. Be careful not to catch the bite block on the corner of the mouth.
• Move the bite block onto the occluded surface of the teeth, just distal of the mandibular cuspid.
• Instruct the patient to gently rest on the bite block.
• Place the isthmus behind the maxillary tooth resting on the retro molar path, and put the cheek shield into the buckle vestibule.
To view a video demonstration of the mouthpiece placement procedure, visit www.isolitesystems.com/video.asp and view TEAM DVD: The Basics of Your Isolite System, Section 3—Mouthpiece Placement.
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