I must admit that I am and have always been a “gadget” kind of guy. My life is filled with the never ending search for the next best thing that will make some aspect of life easier, better, more fun, or all of the above. I’ve sampled or bought a wide range of gadgets from kitchen utensils to farm equipment to golf clubs. Some work and some do not. Those gadgets that perform as promised are, to me, worth all the searching.

Dentistry is filled with gadgets. We receive piles of weekly reports, journals, emails, magazines, and assorted flyers for the next great thing to make dentistry easier, more predictable, less painful, and more comfortable for patients and doctors alike. The good ones actually perform as promised.

We recently implemented a simple, yet ingenious piece of dental equipment that truly makes dentistry simpler for everyone involved. It improves patient comfort, makes procedures go faster, protects patients, allows for better dentistry to be performed, and generally makes life easier for doctors, patients, and assistants.

This revolutionary equipment is called an Isolite. The Isolite is a plastic mouthpiece that simultaneously suctions spit and debris, allows a patient’s jaw to rest on a padded surface, provides light to the operating field, and protects a person’s tongue and cheeks from the dental handpiece. The actual plastic mouthpieces come in different sizes to fit young and old and are disposable to prevent cross contamination. Using the Isolite makes dentistry better for everyone.

So what are the drawbacks? Occasionally, patients with a severe gag reflex may not be able to tolerate the mouthpiece. This is very rare though. The mouthpiece can be awkward to put in place, but is very comfortable once adjusted correctly. The suction from the handpiece is quite strong and a bit noisy, but keeps your mouth nice and clean. Most patients actually prefer the suction noise to the high pitched sound of a dental handpiece.

One dental gadget found, many more to go. My search for the best in dental care continues.

Until next week, keep smiling.

-Please send comments to Drs. Parrish at www.ParrishDental.com.