Product Profile: Orthomatics: The OrthoSlenderizer



The OrthoSlenderizer by Orthomatics

Designed by an orthodontist for use with Invisalign, the OrthoSlenderizer is a cordless, rechargeable instrument that reduces IPR to seconds, rather than minutes, saving valuable doctor time and facilitating better treatment. It adds a thirddimension to the equation, providing mesial/distal and buccal/ lingual dimensions to best serve the patient.

Eliminating the Drudgery of IPR
ClinCheck is great in determining where and how much IPR is necessary, but the hang up has been in transferring the information to the mouth. Accurate treatment planning, record keeping, predictable instrumentation and skillful technique are essential to producing accurate results when performing IPR.

Many doctors are uncomfortable using a disk, even with a guard, to open a contact. This can be hazardous. It has been noted that in opening contacts with an end-cutting disk, no matter how careful, experienced or proficient the operator might be, there is a high risk of creating serious problems. Using this initial step frequently creates ledges in the enamel or produces gingivally tapered openings. Some techniques advocate using a hand strip and even a mechanical separator to open a tight contact before following up with a disk, which can be very uncomfortable to the patient. Access to interproximal contact points is also important. With most mechanical devices, rotated teeth or overlapping contacts must be corrected first so proper anatomy can be maintained as IPR is performed. This is because the blades are too short and stiff to flex around the proximal anatomy. The blades also have small available working surfaces and the abrasive tends to wear off shortening blade life.

The OrthoSlenderizer Plus System
A combination system has been developed to reduce the anxiety of both the patient and doctor. There are various strip holders available that can be used to create an initial opening between teeth manually or automatically. However, the most recent device, acting as both patient- and operator-friendly, is the OrthoSlenderizer. The blank half of the ContactBreaker blade is inserted between the teeth like a piece of metal floss. The hand set, which has a reciprocal action of 100 times per second, is activated and the abrasive half of the perforated blade is moved into the contact to open it. Heavier grit blades can be used to remove more enamel, or a specially designed diamond disk can be employed to complete the process. The Raintree Essix 915 SSO and the 915 SSI have an abrasive surface that is only 0.15mm wide and are “non-end-cutting” (a very important feature). This disk can be used to finish the IPR space to the desired opening.

As the IPR process proceeds, the amount of enamel reduction must be monitored with gauges. Begin with the 0.20mm gauge, then checking with thicker gauges until the opening is precisely determined but ever-so-slightly less than the intended amount.

IPR is a critical component of any clear aligner treatment and also important when adjusting mesial/distal widths using fixed appliances. Dr. Larry White says, “The OrthoSlenderizer is exactly the instrument orthodontic clinicians have needed for a long time. It fits the task completely.”

Company Contact
For more information on OrthoSlenderizer, contact 303-506-0357 or visit www.orthomatics.com.
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