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1. Esthetic Inlay/Onlay Brasseler 2. STS Diamonds Brasseler 3. Laminate Veneer System Brasseler 4a. Acrylic Adjustment Polishing Set Axis 4b. Composite and Acrylic Provisional Adjustment/ Polishing Kit Brasseler 4c. Inlay/Onlay Preparation Kit Bisco 4d. Micro Prep Brasseler 4e. Restoration Removal Kit Brasseler 4f. Top Finisher Cosmedent 5a. Acrylic Temporization Kit Brasseler 5b. Nixon Inlay/Onlay II Brasseler 5c. UK & UM Cutters Brasseler 5d. Ultra Denture Adjustment and Polishing Kit Brasseler REALITY’S CHOICES Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler 6b. The Solution Crown and Bridge Design System Brasseler 7a. Composite Finish and Polish Kit Brasseler 7b. Enhance Composite Finishing and Polishing System Dentsply/Caulk 7c. Inlay/Onlay Kit KG Sorensen 7d. Porcelain Veneer Kit Shofu 8a. Composite Finishing Preparation Kit Bisco 8b. R.A.P.T.O.R. Resin Sculpting Set Axis 8c. Veneer Preparation Kit Bisco 9. R.A.P.T.O.R. Bisco 10. Posterior Composite Sculpturing Brasseler

Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

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Page 1: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

1. Esthetic Inlay/OnlayBrasseler

2. STS DiamondsBrasseler

3. Laminate Veneer SystemBrasseler

4a. Acrylic AdjustmentPolishing SetAxis

4b. Composite and AcrylicProvisional Adjustment/Polishing KitBrasseler

4c. Inlay/Onlay Preparation KitBisco

4d. Micro PrepBrasseler

4e. Restoration Removal KitBrasseler

4f. Top FinisherCosmedent

5a. Acrylic Temporization KitBrasseler

5b. Nixon Inlay/Onlay II Brasseler

5c. UK & UM CuttersBrasseler

5d. Ultra Denture Adjustmentand Polishing KitBrasseler

REALITY’S CHOICESPreparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897

6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer IIBrasseler

6b. The Solution Crown and Bridge Design SystemBrasseler

7a. Composite Finish and Polish KitBrasseler

7b. Enhance Composite Finishing and Polishing SystemDentsply/Caulk

7c. Inlay/Onlay KitKG Sorensen

7d. Porcelain Veneer KitShofu

8a. Composite Finishing Preparation KitBisco

8b. R.A.P.T.O.R. Resin Sculpting Set Axis

8c. Veneer Preparation KitBisco

9. R.A.P.T.O.R.Bisco

10. Posterior Composite Sculpturing Brasseler

Page 2: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19898 The Ratings

ProductCost/

Instrument Intended FunctionNumber of

Instruments Type of Instruments

Esthetic Inlay/Onlay

Brasseler

Laminate Veneer System

Brasseler

$10.00

$14.29

Prepare & Finish Inlays & Onlays

Prepare & FinishVeneers

9

8

Cutting Diamonds, Finishing Burs

Cutting & FinishingDiamonds, Finishing burs

STS DiamondsBrasseler

$11.16

Prepare IndirectProcedures when

Patient has LimitedOpening Capabilities

12 Cutting Diamonds

Acrylic AdjustmentPolishing Set

Axis$12.49

Adjust and polishacrylic applicances

8Rubber polishers,

acrylic burs

Inlay/OnlayPreparation Kit

Bisco$9.00

Prepare & Finish inlaysand onlays

10Cutting diamonds, finishing diamond,

finishing burs

Restoration Removal Kit

BrasselerN/A

Remove composite,amalgam, porcelain,

and cast metal restorations

45Cutting diamonds,

carbide burs, crown remover

Top FinisherCosmedent

N/AFinish and polish composite and

porcelain> 800

Rubber polishers, finishing discs and strips,

polishing pastes

UK & UM CuttersBrasseler

$26.72Adjust and smooth

metal porcelain5 Carbide burs

Ultra DentureAdjustment and

Polishing KitBrasseler

$12.50Adjust and polishacrylic appliances

8Rubber polishers,

acrylic burs

Composite andAcrylic Provisional

Adjustment/Polishing Kit

Brasseler

N/AAdjust and polish

provisional restorations

29Carbide bur, diamond discs,

rubber polishers, diamond paste

Nixon Inlay/Onlay IIBrasseler

Micro PrepBrasseler

Acrylic Temporization Kit

Brasseler

Nixon Porcelain Veneer IIBrasseler

$10.00

$13.65

$12.33

$10.30

Prepare & Finish Inlays & Onlays

Prepare MinimallyInvasive Cavities

Contour & PolishProvisionals

Prepare & FinishVeneers

8

8

9

13

Cutting & FinishingDiamonds and Burs

Cutting Diamonds

Rubber Polishers, Acrylic Burs,

Diamond Disc

Cutting & FinishingDiamonds, Finishing Burs

Page 3: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Even though you can put together groups of instruments andmaterials yourself, buying a kit for a specific purpose can some-times simplify the process and save you time. On the other hand,

you can go overboard and have a drawer full of kits with manyduplicate instruments and/or materials.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 899

ProductCost/

Instrument Intended FunctionNumber of

Instruments Type of Instruments

Porcelain Veneer KitShofu

$4.62Prepare, Finish, &

Polish Veneers16

Cutting & FinishingDiamonds, White Stones,

Rubber Polishers

The Solution Crownand Bridge Design

SystemBrasseler

$11.90Prepare and finish

ceramic crowns21

Cutting diamonds, rubber polishers

Composite Finish and Polish Kit

BrasselerN/A

Finish and polish composite

restorations64

Polishing brushes, rubberpolishers, finishing burs, fin-ishing strips, finishing discs

Inlay/Onlay KitKG Sorensen

$5.00Prepare and finishinlays and onlays

10Cutting diamonds, finishing

diamond, finishing bur

Composite FinishingPreparation Kit

Bisco$9.90

Contour compositerestorations

10Finishing burs and diamonds

Veneer PreparationKit

Bisco$9.00

Prepare and finishporcelain veneers

10Cutting and finishing

diamonds

Posterior CompositeSculpturing

Brasseler$12.17

Contour PosteriorComposites

11Finishing Burs &

Diamonds

Enhance CompositeFinishing and

Polishing SystemDentsply/Caulk

$1.82Contour & Polish

CompositeRestorations

65 Rubber Polishers,Polishing Paste and Cups

R.A.P.T.O.R.Bisco

$13.83Contour Posterior

Composites6 Finishing Diamonds

& Burs

R.A.P.T.O.R.Resin Sculpting Set

Axis$12.21

Contour and Polish Posterior

Composites9

Cutting & FinishingDiamonds and Burs,

Rubber Polishers

Page 4: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description Designed by Editorial Team Member Dr. Ronald Jackson, this kitincludes four preparation diamonds, one end-cutting diamond for

finishing the gingival wall of a proximal box, and a long finishingbur to smooth the preparation. There are also two finishing bursand one finishing diamond for adjusting the occlusion after bond-ing the restoration.

Packaging Sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. Drawings of instruments help when reassembling forautoclaving and numbers help with reordering. There is also roomfor extra burs, so you can customize it if you choose.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19900 The Ratings

Esthetic Inlay/OnlayBrasseler(4.6) www.brasselerusa.com

All you need for inlays and onlaysBurblock separates prep from finishing

Add a few extra diamonds and it could also befor anteriorBurblock should be smaller

REALITY’SC H O I C E S1

Cost: $89.99/9 ($10.00/instrument)

Includes: • 4 preparation diamonds • 1 end-cutting diamond • 3 finishing burs • 1 finishing diamond • 1 autoclavable burblock

If you perform inlays and onlays in your practice,buy the Esthetic Inlay/Onlay kit. It has all theinstruments you need for both resin and porcelain.

REALITY

Description Shorter than short (STS) diamonds for preparing crowns inpatients with limited opening. Instead of the more normal 21mmin length diamonds from Brasseler, these are about 16.5mm (flat-

STS DiamondsBrasseler(4.5)

Cost: $133.90/12 ($11.16 ea)

Kit includes: • 4 coarse diamonds • 4 medium diamonds • 4 fine diamonds• 1 autoclavable burblock

Definitely helps when patients can’t open wideVery compact kit

Larger diameter on flat end would helpBurs difficult to retrieve from burblock

REALITY’SC H O I C E S2

Page 5: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

end cylinder). Kit includes three different grits, with the coarsehaving a black band, medium having no band, and fine having ared band. Shapes are flat-end cylinder, rounded-end cylinder, foot-ball, and flame.

Packaging Sterilizable red anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover and drawings of the instruments allows you toclean, reassemble the kit, and then sterilize. However, it would beeven more helpful to have identified the grits by color and coarse-ness. The instruments, due to their shortness, sit too low in theburblock than normal size burs. This makes retrieving them moredifficult.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 901

STS Diamonds make up this one-of-a-kind kit thatdefinitely simplifies preparing teeth in a patientwith limited opening. Just about all the instru-ments were used by our evaluators, but largerselection would also be appreciated. Burblock isgood, but could be improved by better labelingand having the diamonds sit higher for betteraccess.

REALITY

Description Features 0.3mm and 0.5mm, three-ringed, depth-limiting andtwo long tapered, two-grit diamonds that come in two widths.The tips of these instruments contain fine diamond particles fordefining and refining the margins while the coarse diamond par-ticles on the remainder of the cutting surface reduce the enamel tothe depth established by the depth-limiting diamond. Alsoincludes three finishing ET/OS diamonds and one 30-fluted ETcarbide.

Packaging Sterilizable red anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover. Has drawings, numbers, and description of theinstruments to allow you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize, as well as reorder with accuracy.

Cost: $114.30/8 ($14.29/instrument)Includes: • 4 preparation diamonds • 1 finishing carbide bur • 3 finishing diamonds • 1 autoclavable burblock

Laminate Veneer SystemBrasseler(4.4)

Fast, depth-limiting diamondsTwo-grit tapered diamond works well

Can’t have multiple depths with depth-limitingdiamonds30-fluted bur has limited use

3

The Laminate Veneer System is a very completekit for preparing and finishing veneers. However,we prefer the depth-limiting diamonds in theNixon Kit II as they give you the option of using onedepth for the incisal 2/3 and another depth for thecervical 1/3. We also do not believe the 30-flutedbur is of much value.

REALITY

Page 6: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

DescriptionKit for adjusting and polishing dentures or any acrylic appliance.Instruments fit into a straight handpiece and are autoclavable,Chemiclavable, and dry heat sterilizable. There are two acrylicburs, one bullet and one pear shape. The actual polishers come intwo sizes: large, blunt-ended and bullet-shaped and mediumpointed bullets impregnated with silicon carbide abrasive in threegrits: coarse (green), medium (black), and fine (yellow).

Packaging Autoclavable anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hinged alu-minum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. Rubber instruments are identified only by number, butnot grit or color.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19902 The Ratings

Acrylic Adjustment Polishing SetAxis (4.3)

Cost: $99.95/8 ($12.49/instrument)Includes: • 2 acrylic adjusting burs• 2 polishing points (coarse)• 2 polishing points (medium)• 2 polishing points (fine)• 1 autoclavable burblockLarge and small points

More aseptic than pumice and high shine

Pumice on lathe still faster for polishing majoradjustmentsPumice is much less expensive

4aENCORE

The Acrylic Adjustment Polishing Set is very similarto the Ultra Denture Adjustment & Polishing Kit, alsofeatured in this section. As a matter of fact, the largepolishers appear to be identical to those that were inthe Brasseler kit several years ago. We did an apples-to-apples comparison by roughening and then refinishingone side of a denture flange with the Ultra DentureAdjustment & Polishing Kit and one side with this kit.

The results showed the Acrylic Adjustment PolishingSet was somewhat more effective than the Ultra

Denture Adjustment & Polishing Kit. We found the larg-er bur in the Acrylic Adjustment Kit was more effectivein pre-smoothing the acrylic compared to the large burin the Ultra Denture Adjustment & Polishing Kit. Neitherkit was able to re-establish a very high shine that can beaccomplished on a lathe. Note: the polishers in this kitbegin to rotate eccentrically in speeds over 17,000-20,000RPM. This kit also has the smaller points for fin-ishing areas too small for the large points.

REALITY

Page 7: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description Complete system of acrylic/composite burs and polishers for fin-ishing provisional restorations. Four burs are thin versions ofconventional acrylic cutters, while the other two are HP versionsof ET burs. The diamond discs include two large diameter, one ofwhich has a serrated edge, while the third is a Visionflex thatmounts on a pop-on type of HP mandrel. The rubber instrumentsinclude the same discs that are in the Acrylic Temporization Kitplus mounted small bullet points in the same three grits. The pol-ishers include two brushes similar to those evaluated in thePolishing Instrument section under Polishing Brushes, exceptthese are wheels on a HP mandrel. The other six include pairs ofgoat hair, ragwheel, and felt. The diamond paste is Truluster.

Packaging Conventional translucent plastic box with rear-hinged top thatsnaps closed in the front. Partitions keep the contents reasonablyorganized.

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 903

Cost: $348.40/24 Includes: • 6 acrylic/composite adjustment burs• 3 diamond discs• 6 unmounted rubber polishers• 6 mounted rubber polishers• 8 mounted polishers• 1 syringe of diamond paste (5g)

Composite and Acrylic ProvisionalAdjustment/Polishing Kit

Brasseler

(4.3)

Virtually everything in one boxHP burs are especially effective

If you use a resin glaze, you don’t need half the kitBox is great for shipping, but a nuisance during use

4b

Preparation and Finishing Kits

NEW

Other than sandpaper discs, the Composite andAcrylic Provisional Adjustment/Polishing Kit givesyou virtually all the instruments you would ever need tocontour and polish any provisional restoration. The car-bide burs were particularly praised by our evaluators fortheir cutting efficiency (one evaluator needed a high-speed diamond for bulk reduction) and the diamonddiscs are especially helpful with refining bridge embra-sures. However the disc with the serrated edge needs tobe used with great caution, as it can jump and lacerate

your finger. As far as the polishing wheels and diamondis concerned, these will either get plenty of use or noneat all, depending on whether you use a resin glaze onyour provisional on a routine basis. If you do, then abouthalf of this kit would go to waste. And, while the plasticbox is fine for shipping, it’s a disaster for routine use.This kit is just begging for a countertop burblock, whichwould make the instruments much more convenient andaccessible. In addition, the cloth-type polishers are diffi-cult to clean and disinfect.

REALITY

Page 8: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description Kit specified for inlays and onlays. The preparation diamonds areprimarily short and obviously meant for inlays and onlays. The

finishing diamonds and one finishing bur are small football size,perfect for adjusting the occlusion on these restorations.

Packaging Sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedcover and has drawings of the instruments, which allow you toclean, reassemble the kit, and then sterilize.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19904 The Ratings

Inlay/Onlay Preparation KitBisco (4.3)

Cost: $90.00/10 ($9.00/instrument) Includes: • 6 preparation diamonds• 1 end-cutting diamond• 1 finishing diamond• 2 finishing burs • 1 autoclavable burblockAlmost perfect variety of instruments

Single file burblock makes grabbing burs easy

Smoother grit finishing diamond would make ithard to beatPhone number on kit is not toll-free

4cNEW

Inlay/Onlay Preparation Kit is much closer to the kitsfrom Brasseler in form and price than it is to the kit fromKG Sorensen. This means the kit has a variety of short,rather thick burs that definitely are valuable whenpreparing a tooth for an inlay or onlay. In addition, theend-cutting diamond is always a help in smoothing gin-gival walls of proximal boxes and the occlusaladjustment diamonds and carbide are just the right sizeand shape. The diamonds are high quality, cut cleanly,

and concentrically. And the aluminum burblock is longerand thin, with the instruments arranged in one line thatmakes it easier to retrieve the diamonds. However, thesmall football shapes are really for adjusting the occlu-sion when seating the restoration, while the name ofthe kit seems to indicate it is for preparation only. Anda finer grit finishing diamond would help make this kithard to beat.

Description Designed by Dr. Buddy Mopper, this is a set of very small dia-monds for minimally invasive preparations. Shapes of some of the

Micro PrepBrasseler (4.3)

Cost: $109.20/8 ($13.65/diamond)Includes:• 8 diamonds • 1 autoclavable burblock

Encourages conservative prepsShapes should handle all needs

ExpensiveAny thin diamond or bur will also work

4d

REALITY

Page 9: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description Compilation of specific highspeed diamonds and carbides for cut-ting through porcelain, composite, cast metal, and amalgam. Thecrown remover is double-ended and has angled ends for accessingslots prepared in crowns to break the cement seal.

PackagingClear plastic box with individual compartments designed to holdthe burs, burblock, and crown remover. Burs are in standard 5-burpack plastic cases. You need to load the burblock yourself with theburs you want. The burblock is nicely imprinted with the intend-ed materials through which the respective burs would cut and hasoutlines of their shapes for easier assembly and reordering.

diamonds are very unusual including a tear-drop. Other shapes arenarrow flame, rounded-end cylinder, spherical, ball, and conical.

Packaging Sterilizable red anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. Drawings of instruments help when reassembling forautoclaving and numbers help with reordering. There are alsodescriptions of the intended use of each instrument directly print-ed on the burblock.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 905

Cost: $400.40

Includes: • 5801-016 porcelain removal (5)• 5835-012 porcelain removal (5)• H34-010 metal cutters (5)• H34-012 metal cutters (5)• H34L-012 metal cutters (5)• 5985-012 composite removal (5)• 5 6813-014 amalgam removal• 5 6813-016 amalgam removal• 5 H32-012 amalgam removal• 250 EB134 crown removal instrument (1)• 1 autoclavable burblock

Restoration Removal KitBrasseler(4.3)

Keeps similar purpose burs togetherMetal and porcelain cutters save regular instruments

Can any coarse diamond not work as well?Convenience comes at a hefty price

4e

If you have embraced this approach to restorativedentistry (it’s a positive trend), then Micro Prepwill come in very handy.

REALITY

NEW

Specific burs to cut through specific material arenothing new. Putting them into a comprehensivekit called the Restoration Removal Kit wouldseem to be helpful, but at the retail price, it’sawfully steep. Nevertheless, it is certainly efficientto have all the instruments you would typically useto remove restorations in one place. We can’t quib-ble very much with the burs matched to porcelainand metal, but do we really need specific burs forremoving amalgam and composite? In addition,one evaluator thought the crown remover was notheavy duty enough.

Note: Two of our three kits did not have theporcelain removal diamond 5835-012. Instead, ithad five additional 5985-012, which are the com-posite removal diamonds. We advise closely check-ing any kit that you order to make sure you receivethe correct instruments.

REALITY

Page 10: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description As the name implies, this kit has it all. It contains just about everyconceivable finishing and polishing instrument and productexcept for burs and diamonds, including FlexiDiscs, FlexiBuffs,FlexiPoints, FlexiCups, FlexiWheels, FlexiStrips, FlexiDiamondStrips, Enamelize, Porcelize, unmounted wheels for polishingporcelain, and Felt FlexiPoints.

Packaging Large white plastic tray with numerous receptacles of specific sizesfor the specific products. Covering this tray is a clear plastic coverwith the description of each receptacle printed directly above it.However, when the cover is removed, there go the descriptions.This lack of identification is not really a problem when it comesto the larger items such as Enamelize and Porcelize, but could be

with the FlexiDiscs. It would have been better to print directly onthe divisions of the receptacles.

Due to all the loose discs in this kit, you better hope the per-son retrieving it from the cabinet doesn’t trip or you’ll have a pileof mixed up discs on your hands. The white plastic tray was a bittoo flexible — a stiffer tray would be appreciated.

Directions An eight-page color fold-out guide. The best polishing guide fromany manufacturer.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19906 The Ratings

Top FinisherCosmedent (4.3)

Cost: $389.95

Includes: • 700 assorted FlexiDiscs/8 mandrels• 50 FlexiStrips • 12 FlexiDiamond strips • 8 FlexiCups• 6 FlexiPoints• 2 FlexiWheels• 2 Felt FlexiPoints• 50 FlexiBuffs• 1 tube of Enamelize• 2 syringes of Porcelize

Has everything you needNicely organized

Large and unwieldyDon’t trip when carrying it

4fENCORE

Although the Top Finisher System is a large kit and takes up a lot of countertop space, itgives you just about everything you will ever need to finish and polish composite and porce-lain restorations all in one box, although adding D♦Fine and Revitalizer would make it evenmore complete. It is well-organized and contains most of the excellent finishing and pol-ishing products for which Cosmedent is famous. Kit would also be an excellent addition tothe hygienist’s armamentarium.

REALITY

Page 11: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description Designed for contouring and polishing acrylic provisionals, threedifferent grits of silicone rubber knife-edged discs impregnatedwith silicon carbide abrasive, which are mounted on the straightmandrels, are included in the kit. Green is coarse, black is medi-um, yellow is fine. In addition, there are the two different EFcutters, which are straight handpiece carbide burs specificallydesigned to cut acrylic, plus a serrated-edged diamond disc.

Packaging Sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. It would be helpful to have drawings of EF Cutters anddiamond disc for reassembly, although they are identified by theirnumbers. Rubber wheels are already identified by color and grit,which helps with instrument selection.

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 907

Cost: $110.99/9 ($12.33/instrument)Includes: • 2 knife-edge coarse polishers • 2 knife-edge medium polishers • 2 knife-edge fine polishers • 3 straight handpiece mandrels • 2 EF cutters • 1 diamond disc • 1 autoclavable burblock

Acrylic Temporization KitBrasseler(4.2) 5a

Effective on acrylic and compositeCan use in straight and contra-angle handpieces

Wear out quicklyGrinding debris from polishers is a nuisance

The Acrylic Temporization Kit is for the finishing andpolishing of acrylic provisionals without leaving thetreatment room, which is especially important whenmore stringent laboratory asepsis requirements aretaken into consideration. Before this kit, to properlypolish an acrylic provisional, you needed to remove yoursoiled gloves, disinfect the provisional, go to the lab,polish it with a sterile rag wheel using pumice mixedwith a disinfectant followed by some type of acrylichigh shine polish, and then return to the treatmentroom followed by regloving. That is, of course, if youwere adhering to universal infection control proce-dures. With this kit, the nuisance of laboratorypolishing is largely eliminated.

All the individual instruments perform their assignedtasks reasonably well. If you are accustomed to trim-ming a provisional with a sandpaper disc, you may ormay not want to switch to the EF cutters, based on per-sonal preference. The diamond disc is useful for estab-lishing initial embrasure form when contouring bridgesand splinted units, but is too stiff for definitive shapingin this delicate area. A more flexible sandpaper, alu-minum oxide, or VisionFlex disc is more indicated forthis task.

The rubber polishing discs are very effective, withtheir knife-edged shape allowing access to all but themost restricted gingival embrasure areas of splintedunits. A fine-tipped point shape would be a welcomeaddition to permit occlusal surface polishing. Their onlyapparent deficiencies seem to be the residue they leaveon the provisional and the fact that the coarse andmedium discs wear down rather quickly. The residue,however, is easily cleaned off with soap and water. Inaddition, when the three different grits of rubberwheels are all mounted on mandrels and placed in theburblock along with the diamond disc and EF cutters, itbecame somewhat difficult to remove individual instru-ments.

Nevertheless, the polish achieved with these instru-ments is quite acceptable for all but the most demand-ing of clinical situations (pumice followed by acrylichigh shine is still necessary in these instances) andshould only require about two minutes per unit to per-form. Can also be used to polish composite provisionals,but you will not be able to achieve a high shine on theseproducts with this kit.

REALITY

Preparation and Finishing Kits

Page 12: Preparation and Finishing Kits - realityesthetics.com · Preparation and Finishing Kits ©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 897 6a. Nixon Porcelain Veneer II Brasseler

Description Designed by Dr. Robert Nixon, contains diamonds and burs forboth preparation and finishing inlays and onlays. Included arefour preparation diamonds, one tissue protective end-cutting dia-mond, two 12-fluted burs, and one fine diamond.

Packaging Small sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hinged aluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kits,and then sterilize. Does not include drawings of instruments tohelp with reassembly, but does have numbers for reordering.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19908 The Ratings

Nixon Inlay & Onlay IIBrasseler (4.2)

Cost: $79.99/8 ($10.00/instrument)Includes: • 4 preparation diamonds • 1 end-cutting diamond • 1 finishing diamond • 2 finishing burs • 1 autoclavable burblock

Very compactGood instrument selection

No drawings on burblock for reassemblyNo finishing diamonds for occlusal surface

5b

Almost the identical kit to Esthetic Inlay/Onlay,except for three instruments. The Nixon Inlay/Onlay II has just about everything you need forthese restorations, but it still lacks finishing dia-monds for porcelain and a burblock with instrumentdrawings.

REALITY

Description Contouring kit featuring straight handpiece tungsten carbide cut-ters (burs) with staggered toothing and additional cross-cuts topresumably provide high material reduction and smooth surfaceswith only one cutter. Completely new blade geometry supposed-ly allows them to cut more efficiently. The UM Cutters areuniversal metal cutters distinguished by a red ring and a goldenshank. Using a high contact pressure, the UM cutters shape andrework precious and non-precious metals as used in substructures

of crowns and bridges and cast metal partial denture frameworks.By using low contact pressure, the UM cutter should be able tosmooth and finish metal castings.

UK cutters, which feature the same golden shank as the UMbut are marked with a white ring, are fabricated to contour andfinish ceramics and materials for provisional restorations.

Packaging Sterilizable anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hinged alu-minum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. Drawings of instruments help when reassembling forautoclaving and numbers help with reordering. It also tells youwhich instruments are for metal and which are for ceramics andresins. In addition, there is room for extra burs, so you can cus-tomize it if you choose.

UK & UM CuttersBrasseler (4.2)

Cost: $133.60/5 ($26.72/instrument) Includes: • 3 UM cutters • 2 UK cutters• 1 autoclavable burblock

Bullet worked well on all materialsVery organized kit

Tapered versions are too thin to be effectiveTends to chatter more on porcelain comparedto highspeed diamond

5cNEW

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DescriptionKit for adjusting and polishing dentures or any acrylic appliance.Instruments fit into a straight handpiece and are autoclavable, butcannot be Chemiclaved. There are two E-Cutters, which are car-bide burs designed for adjusting acrylic. These come in a bulletand pear shape. The bullet (251EF-060) has a typical size head forthese types of burs, but is unique due to its fine blades. The pear-shaped (H77E-040) has a small head, designed to access restrictedareas. The actual polishers are large, bullet-shaped silicone rubberpoints impregnated with silicon carbide abrasive in three grits:coarse (dark pink), medium (light pink), and fine (yellow).

Packaging Autoclavable anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hinged alu-minum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. Rubber instruments are identified by color and grit,which is very helpful for reassembly and for use, just in case youforget the order in which they are to be used.

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 909

Cost: $99.99/8 ($12.50/instrument)Includes: • 2 acrylic adjusting burs• 2 polishing points (coarse)• 2 polishing points (medium)• 2 polishing points (fine)• 1 autoclavable burblock

Ultra Denture Adjustment & PolishingBrasseler(4.2)

No more running to the labMore aseptic than pumice and high shine

Pumice on lathe still faster for polishing majoradjustmentsPumice is much less expensive

5d

There were differences in ease of use and efficacy ofthese burs depending on the materials being cut. TheUK Cutters worked quite well on acrylic and compositeresin provisional restorations, cutting smoothly andeffectively, but creating a messy powder because of thefineness of the cut, and tending to clog with debris tooreadily. They also cut on porcelain quite well, cuttingsmoothly and effectively, but heating up a bit too read-ily. One evaluator felt the UK cutters had more chatteron porcelain compared to a highspeed diamond. TheUM Cutters worked excellently on both semi-precious

and precious metal copings, not quite as effectively andheating up too readily on non-precious metal copings,excellently on aluminum implant temporary cylinders,and quite effectively but with a tendency to “grab” themetal on trimming copper plated dies.

Of the shapes, the bullets in both systems (139) cutbetter than the thinner ones (138), which tended togouge the material. The largest bur, H79UM for themetal, is mainly for larger restorations such as partialdentures.

REALITYPreparation and Finishing Kits

ENCORE

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Description Designed by Dr. Robert Nixon, this kit is meant specifically forporcelain veneers and is an updated version of the original kit. Forpreparing teeth, there are four diamonds plus three, single-ringed,depth cutters in 0.3mm, 0.5mm, and 0.7mm. For finishing, thereare four diamonds plus two 30-fluted burs.

Packaging Sterilizable red anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. There are no illustrations of the instruments, however, tohelp you reassemble the kit properly, although the depth cuttersare well marked.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19910 The Ratings

Nixon Porcelain Veneer IIBrasseler (4.1)

Cost: $133.90/13 ($10.30/instrument)Includes:• 4 preparation diamonds • 3 depth-cutting diamonds • 4 finishing diamonds • 2 finishing burs • 1 autoclavable burblock

Good depth-cuttersThree cutting diamonds are versatile

Forget the 30-fluted bursCan it be used for resin veneers?

6a

The Ultra Denture Adjustment & Polishing Kit isvery similar to the Acrylic Adjustment Polishing Set, alsofeatured in this section. It is used to adjust and polishany acrylic appliance (dentures, orthodontic retainers,TMJ splints, etc.) in the treatment room.

The acrylic adjusting burs function just like all others,but, perhaps, with more efficiency. Even though it iscapable of removing moderate amounts of acrylic (whenadjusting a denture, for example), the fine blade designof the 251EF leaves the acrylic relatively smooth andready for polishing. The 77E has a pear-shaped head,which is able to get into areas more conventionalshaped burs cannot.

The rubber polishing points actually perform theirappointed tasks reasonably well. The pink-colored

points do not wear out as quickly as the original greenand black, but our tests revealed the performance hasnot been improved and may even be slightly worse, inthat they still did not remove the striations from the E-Cutters very effectively. The polish they impartapproaches but does not quite equal that of pumice andacrylic hi-shine on ragwheels used with a lab lathe. And,if you are making gross adjustments and need tosmooth and polish large areas, lathe polishing will prob-ably still be faster.

Overall, even though this kit has several minor draw-backs, it should be a valuable addition to your arma-mentarium, assuming you provide services in whichacrylic appliances are involved.

REALITY

The Nixon Porcelain Veneer II is a well-designedkit that gives you maximum control over yourveneer preparations since you can use one depthcutter in the incisal two-thirds of the tooth andanother one in the cervical area. We would replacethe 30-fluted burs with Dialite finishing and polish-ing cups.

REALITY

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Description Contains three different kits for preparing crowns with differentmargin designs. Each kit features two primary diamonds, a longthin diamond for breaking contact, and a football diamond forocclusal reduction. The polishing kit is evaluated in the PolishingInstruments section of this edition.

Packaging Clear plastic sturdy tackle box with extra spaces for extra storageholds the sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblocks withrear-hinged covers. Each has drawings of the instruments, whichallow you to clean, reassemble the kit, and then sterilize.

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 911

Cost: $250.00/21 ($11.90/instrument)

Includes: • 1 Modified Chamfer Preparation Kit (4 diamonds)• 1 Chamfer Preparation Kit (4 diamonds) • 1 Modified Shoulder Preparation Kit (4 diamonds) • 1 Intra-Oral Dialite Porcelain Adjustment Polishing Kit (9 polishers) • 4 autoclavable burblocks

The Solution Crown & Bridge Design SystemBrasseler(4.1)

Simplified C&B 101Diamond selection made for you

Missing depth cutterCookie cutter approach doesn’t work for everyone

6b

Preparation and Finishing Kits

NEW

If you are confused about what kind of diamond to usefor specific types of preparations, The Solution Crownand Bridge Design System is for you. While some ofinstruments are duplicated, it definitely takes some ofthe guesswork out of preparing crowns. The burblockseven tell you which instruments are designed for break-ing contact, reducing the occlusal and lingual,

performing bulk axial reduction, and refining the prepa-ration. However, depth-limiting diamonds are missingand the simplified approach may just be too simplistic tobe of value for an experienced dentist. And the plastictackle box is a nuisance, since its lid has to be openedevery time you fetch a kit. On the other hand, the dia-monds themselves are of typical high Brasseler quality.

REALITY

Cost: $259.95

Includes: • 3 ComposiPro Brushes • 3 ComposiPro OneStep Polishers • 12 ET burs• 6 Visionflex diamond strips • 40 EP finishing discs and one mandrel• 1 autoclavable burblock

Composite Finish and Polish KitBrasseler(4.0)

Finishing and polishing tapas-likeLet’s you sample numerous products

Repackaging at its bestAt least you can use the box afterwards

7aNEW

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Description Basically a smorgasbord of a number of Brasseler’s various com-posite finishers and polishers. Evaluations of all these items can befound elsewhere in this edition.

Packaging Conventional translucent plastic box with rear-hinged top thatsnaps closed in the front. Partitions keep the contents reasonablyorganized.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19912 The Ratings

Brasseler is the master in taking its products andrepackaging them in a numbing variety of options.The Composite Finish and Polish Kit is a perfectexample of this concept. If you just want to get afeel of the individual components without buyingeach individual product, then this kit will serve yourneeds. Otherwise, we suggest reading the evalua-tions in all the categories represented by this kitand choosing the best products a la carte.

REALITY

Description Made from a soft, white, flexible, rubber-like material which isactually a proprietary light-cured resin impregnated with an abra-sive. Each polisher is fused to a plastic latch-type mandrel.

Grits One, for finishing.

Shapes Three disc, cup, and point. Disc Most versatile shape. The disc can be used on its front andback surfaces as well as its edge. It is applicable for a multitude oftasks including smoothing and adding anatomy to composites,smoothing the margins of provisional acrylic inlays and onlaysintraorally without any apparent damage to the margins of thepreparation, and removing stain from enamel and restorationsduring recall visits. It is especially proficient at contouring andsmoothing the lingual surfaces of anterior restorations and remov-ing excess resin cement from the margins of bonded porcelainrestorations and residual cement when debonding orthodonticappliances. Cups Perfect size for finishing the gingival margins of a wide vari-ety of restorations including Class V composites and all types of

Enhance Composite Finishing & Polishing SystemDentsply/Caulkwww.caulk.com

(4.0)

Most versatile rubber-like finisherGood flexibility

Wear out quicklyPoint is much too large

7bSAMPLING

Cost: $109.25

Kit includes: • 20 finishing discs • 10 finishing points • 10 finishing cups • 25 polishing cups with one metal mandrel • 1 syringe of Prisma-Gloss (4g) • 1 syringe of Prisma-Gloss Extra Fine (4g

Refills Discs, Cups, or Points Cost: $72.80 for 40 ($1.82 ea)

100 Polishing Cups Cost: $37.60 ($0.38 ea)

3 Mandrels Cost: $9.00 ($3.00 ea)

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veneers (although it will not remove porcelain overhangs). In addi-tion, the cups can be used on cuspal inclines and embrasures. Points Rather large and are the least useful of the three shapes.We would like to see a smaller version.

Packaging Complete kit, which includes Prisma-Gloss, Prisma-Gloss ExtraFine, and polishing cups, comes in a cardboard box with a whiteplastic insert tray securing the contents. The actual Enhanceinstruments are in a plastic burblock-like device, which keeps theinstruments separate, but somewhat difficult to retrieve. All threeshapes can be sterilized in an autoclave, but are really designed tobe disposable.

Directions Plain paper, 10 languages, annoying foldout design. Informationis easy to follow, but the black and white clinical photos are poorquality and not much value.

Enhance is a one-of-a-kind product. It is really theonly rubber instrument available for compositethat can take a roughened surface (after beingadjusted by a finishing bur or disc) and create asmooth one. It is quite versatile and is especiallyeffective on the concave lingual surfaces of anteri-or teeth. Be sure not to get Enhance wet — it willlose its effectiveness very quickly. But Enhance willonly get you part of the way, so you also need oneof the rubber polishing kits to impart a shine on therestoration unless you use the enclosed Prisma-Gloss polishing paste.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 913

REALITY

Description Kit specified for inlays and onlays. Six preparation diamonds aremedium grit (90-120µ), while the finishing diamonds are 45µ.The finishing bur is 30-fluted.

Packaging Sterilizable silver anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedpink cover and has drawings of the instruments, which allow youto clean, reassemble the kit, and then sterilize.

Cost: $49.95/10 ($5.00/instrument) Includes: • 6 preparation diamonds• 3 finishing diamonds• 1 finishing bur • 1 autoclavable burblock

Inlay/Onlay KitKG Sorensen(4.0)

Best buy—very inexpensiveCould also be used for crowns

30-fluted carbide is not usefulNeeds better finishing diamonds for occlusal

7cNEW

At $5.00/instrument (including the burblock), theInlay/Onlay Kit is a real bargain. The diamonds,which range from short to long, could easily beused for crowns as well as inlays and onlays. Eventhough this kit includes finishing diamonds, theircoarseness is better oriented for margins of yourpreparation, but additional, finer grit diamonds areneeded for finishing the occlusal surfaces of inlaysand onlays. The ET9-like 30-fluted bur is out ofplace in this kit and not useful at all.

REALITY

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Description Designed specifically for porcelain veneers. For preparing teeth,there are three medium-grit diamonds (125µ). For finishing, thereare also three diamonds (74µ) plus two Dura-White stones andeight Ceramisté polishers.

Packaging White plastic burblock with rear-hinged clear plastic cover. Drawings of instruments help when reassembling for autoclavingand numbers help with reordering. There are also descriptions of theintended use of each instrument directly printed on the burblock.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19914 The Ratings

Porcelain Veneer KitShofu (4.0)

Cost: $73.95/16 ($4.62/instrument)

Includes:• 3 Robot preparation diamonds • 3 Hybrid finishing diamonds • 2 Dura-White stones • 8 Ceramiste wheels/cups

Directions right on burblockThree cutting diamonds are versatile

No depth-cuttersCeramiste good for smoothing, not polishing

7d

The Porcelain Veneer Kit is a well-designed kit,but lacks depth cutters. The Dura-White stones arealso not very useful. While the Ceramiste instru-ments work well for smoothing chores, theirsilicon carbide abrasive is not capable of creating aglaze-like shine on porcelain.

REALITY

Description Kit for contouring composite restorations that includes variousshapes and flutes of finishing burs for composites. Included arethree long, ET9-like burs, 2 medium length ET6-like burs, 2 largefootball, OS1-like burs, a long, parallel-sided bur with a roundedend, and two needle-like diamonds.

Packaging Sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. There are illustrations of the instruments to help youreassemble the kit properly.

Composite Finishing Preparation KitBisco (3.9)

Cost: $99.00/10 ($9.90/instrument)

Includes: • 2 needle diamonds• 8 finishing burs• 1 autoclavable burblock

Brasseler incognitoAluminum burblock with drawings

Limited selectionTelephone number on kit is not toll-free

8aNEW

Composite Finishing Preparation Kit is a Biscoversion of a Brasseler kit, with ET and OS burs anda few other instruments thrown in. While all theinstruments are fine, the selection is quite limited.In addition, the name of the kit strikes us as strangeand the telephone number on the kit is not toll-free.

REALITY

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Description Posterior composite finishing kit that features three R.A.P.T.O.R.(Rapid Adapting Precision Transformer for Occlusal Resins) fin-ishing diamonds, shaped to duplicate an acorn burnisher. Thefinishing burs are 30-fluted and come in three shapes: Christmastree, egg, and needle. The extra diamond is also a small, thin nee-dle. There are also two rubber finishing points.

UseContour your posterior composite as much as possible with handinstruments prior to curing. The less rotary finishing, the better.Select the appropriately sized R.A.P.T.O.R. diamond and roughout the occlusal anatomy, staying away from the enamel margins.The acorn shape of the diamonds will create the proper pits,grooves, fossae, and cuspal inclines just about automatically. Youcan also use the pointed tip to countersink anatomically correctpits in the occlusal surface and then use the same instrument toconnect the “dots”.

Packaging Plastic box containing black anodized aluminum burblock withrear-hinged cover that makes autoclaving the kit very easy. The numbers of the various burs are imprinted on the burblock,but there are no outlines of the instruments to assist with reassembly.

DirectionsCoated paper booklet, three pages, has helpful color illustrations.Information is clear and easy to understand.

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 915

Cost: $109.95/9 ($12.21/instrument) Includes: • 3 R.A.P.T.O.R. diamonds • 3 finishing burs • 1 finishing diamond • 2 polishers • 1 autoclavable burblock

R.A.P.T.O.R. Resin Sculpting SetAxis(3.9)

All three R.A.P.T.O.R. sizesTwo polishing points

No drawings on burblock for reassembly30-fluted burs are not aggressive enough

8b

Preparation and Finishing Kits

The R.A.P.T.O.R. Resin Sculpting Kit hasimproved attributes over the original version, alsofeatured in this section. Included in these advan-tages is the inclusion of all three sizes of theacorn-shaped diamonds. While the two originalsizes are optimal on medium to large restorations,the extra small size is terrific for the more conser-vative ones. Having the two rubber finishinginstruments for polishing is also a nice bonus,although our polishing tests have found that pol-ishing brushes are more effective on occlusalsurfaces compared to rubber points. In addition,the 30-fluted finishing burs do not cut as effective-ly as those with fewer flutes. And the small, thinneedle diamond is too coarse to be considered forfinishing purposes.

REALITY

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Description Kit is meant specifically for porcelain veneers. For preparing teeth,there are two primary long diamonds plus two, single-ringed,depth cutters in 0.5mm and 0.7mm. For finishing, there are threediamonds.

Packaging Sterilizable blue anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. There are illustrations of the instruments to help youreassemble the kit properly.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19916 The Ratings

Veneer Preparation KitBisco (3.9)

Cost: $90.00 ($9.00/instrument)Includes:• 5 preparation diamonds • 2 depth-cutting diamonds • 3 finishing diamonds • 1 autoclavable burblock

Depth-cutters allow different depths for incisalsand cervicalsInstruments easy to retrieve from burblock

Instrument selection not as optimal as other kitsWhy finishing diamonds if it’s just for preps

8cNEW

The Veneer Preparation Kit was well received bymost evaluators, but several thought the instrumentselection paled in comparison to kits from Brasseler.Nevertheless, the depth cutters are similar to thosein the Nixon II kit, in that you can use one depth inthe incisal two-thirds of the tooth and another onein the cervical area. The linear style burblock makesretrieving instruments easy and the diamonds are ofhigh quality, with minimal clogging and concentric-ity. However, the depth cutters starts at 0.5mm,which can lead to overpreparation compared to the0.3mm depth cutters in other kits.

REALITY

Description Original R.A.P.T.O.R. (Rapid Adapting Precision Transformer forOcclusal Resins) kit for finishing posterior composites. Uniqueinstruments are the two R.A.P.T.O.R. finishing diamonds, whichare shaped to duplicate an acorn burnisher. Available a la carte isa very small size called Lil’ R.A.P.T.O.R. The shank for these dia-

monds can be reduced in length to accommodate patients withlimited ability to open their mouths wide for access. The finishingburs are 30-fluted and come in three shapes: Christmas tree, egg,and needle. The extra diamond is also a small, thin needle. Themandrel fits Bisco’s finishing discs.

R.A.P.T.O.R.Bisco (3.8)

Cost: $83.00 ($13.83/instrument)Includes: • 2 R.A.P.T.O.R. diamonds• 1 regular diamond • 3 finishing burs• 1 mandrel • 1 autoclavable burblock

Refills$16.00/2 Lil’ R.A.P.T.O.R. ($8.00 ea)$16.00/2 Small R.A.P.T.O.R. ($8.00 ea)$18.00/2 Large R.A.P.T.O.R. ($9.00 ea)

Cutting on face-only is more protectivePointed profile gives good anatomy

Only necessary if you overbuildCan scar enamel if not careful

9

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UseContour your posterior composite as much as possible with handinstruments prior to curing. The less rotary finishing, the better.Select the appropriately sized R.A.P.T.O.R. diamond and roughout the occlusal anatomy, staying away from the enamel margins.The acorn shape of the diamonds will create the proper pits,grooves, fossae, and cuspal inclines just about automatically. Youcan also use the pointed tip to countersink anatomically correctpits in the occlusal surface and then use the same instrument toconnect the “dots”.

Packaging Anodized matte silver aluminum burblock with rear-hinged coverthat makes autoclaving the kit very easy. The numbers of the var-ious burs are imprinted on the burblock as is Bisco’s toll-freenumber to expedite reordering, but there are no outlines of theinstruments to assist with reassembly.

DirectionsPlain paper foldout with reasonably helpful line drawings andillustrations. Information is clear and easy to understand.

Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19 The Ratings 917

This R.A.P.T.O.R. kit, the original version, will defi-nitely help create a more ideal occlusal anatomy inan efficient, effective, and rapid manner. The acorndiamonds are designed to accomplish the some-what elusive goal of optimizing occlusal anatomy,while the 30-fluted burs work reasonably well assupport instruments. Even though you can certain-ly achieve beautiful anatomy without R.A.P.T.O.R.,it would no doubt take more time, skill, and expe-rience. R.A.P.T.O.R. levels the playing field andgives even the beginner in posterior composites aquick boost.

However, the R.A.P.T.O.R. diamonds will also cutenamel, so extra care must be exercised to keepthem away from your margins. For perfect anatom-ical contours, the cutting sides of the R.A.P.T.O.R.burs should really be concave to ideally mimic theshapes of the cuspal inclines. In addition, we prefer12-fluted finishing burs for more efficient contour-ing, compared to the 30-fluted variety.

REALITY

Description Specific kit for contouring the occlusal surface of posterior com-posites, although it could also be used to re-establish the occlusalanatomy of inlay and onlays or even crowns if an occlusal adjust-ment has flattened it out. Nine of the 11 instruments have anacorn-shaped head, similar to Raptor. This shape, of course, allowsyou to re-establish cusp-to-fossa anatomy very quickly. Of thenine acorn-shaped instruments, six are diamonds (three are medi-um-grit, three are fine-grit) and three are 20-fluted carbides calledtop-spin. Both the fluted carbides and diamonds are pointed atthe end of the acorn. The fine diamond instruments are color-coded with a red ring on their shanks, while the medium grit has

no ring. (The carbides have a yellow ring.) There are also two bul-let-shaped fluted finishing burs for making fine adjustments afterroughing out the occlusal anatomy with the acorn-shaped instru-ments.

Packaging Autoclavable red anodized aluminum burblock with rear-hingedaluminum cover allows you to clean, reassemble the kit, and thensterilize. Drawings of instruments helps when reassembling forautoclaving and the actual bur numbers help when reordering.

Cost: $133.90/11 ($12.17/instrument)Includes: • 6 acorn finishing diamonds • 3 acorn finishing burs • 2 bullet-shaped finishing burs • 1 autoclavable burblock

Posterior Composite SculpturingBrasseler(3.6)

4 sizes, carbides and diamondsVery organized kit

Medium grit diamond too coarseLarge size too large for most cases

10

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Preparation and Finishing Kits

©2005 REALITY Publishing Co. Vol. 19918 The Ratings

Raptor was the first product to feature an acorn-shaped rotary instrument, similar to an acornburnisher. If you overbuild the final layer of a posteri-or composite, this type instrument will allow you tocontour it very quickly. With Raptor, the diamond abra-sive is only on the end of the head, giving it anadvantage as far as safety is concerned. With the dia-mond abrasive or carbide flutes covering the entirehead of the bur, you could more readily inadvertentlyscar the tooth during finishing. Furthermore, in somesituations, these burs may give you too steep cuspalinclines.

In any event, the Posterior Composite SculpturingKit is the only one that includes both diamonds and burs

in this acorn shape. It’s also the only one with three dif-ferent sizes and two diamond grits. However, the twosmaller sizes and fine grit diamonds are the ones youwill probably use most often, while the medium gritdiamonds were considered too coarse and the largesize in general was not very useful. In addition, thetop-spin carbides do not cut as effectively as the dia-monds.

It is still optimal to sculpt occlusal anatomy into thepre-polymerized composite, which would make usingthese acorn-shaped instruments unnecessary. However,they will still come in handy in situations where youmust re-establish proper occlusal form.

Aesthetic Advantage CeramicCrown and Veneersds/Kerr

Aesthetic Advantage CeramicInlay/Onlaysds/Kerr

All Ceramic Finishing and Polishing KitShofu

Anterior Bur BoxBrasseler

Anterior/Posterior CompositeFinishing SetAxis

Ceramic Crown and Veneer Kitsds/Kerr

Ceramic Inlay/Onlay Kitsds/Kerr

Composite Finishing KitShofu

Composite Polishing KitDent Zar

Contemporary Cutting KitShofu

Fahl Anterior CompositePreparation SetAxis

Fahl Posterior CompositePreparation SetAxis

FinaleUltradent

KS Tooth Preparation KitBrasseler

LSU-Chiche PFM/All-CeramicPreparation KitBrasseler

Moore-Flex Complete E.C. Moore

Porcelain (HP) and Enamel (CA)Adjustment KitsShofu

Porcelain Laminate Polishing KitShofu

Porcelain Veneer Diamond KitLasco

Porcelain Veneer Polishing SystemE.C. Moore

Post Repair KitBrasseler

Robot Carbide CTF KitShofu

Smile Design KitBrasseler

Solidex Finishing and Polishing KitShofu

Weinstein UPF KitBrasseler

OTHER PRODUCTS IN THIS CATEGORY

REALITY