Our Operations Director Paul Holden spoke at the Polymer Processing Engineering 11 (PPE 11) Event at the University of Bradford, last month. Together with Dr. Ben Whiteside, Director of Polymer Micro and Nano Technology at Bradford Universities School of Engineering, Paul presented to the delegates of the Heathcare session on “ProPoint – Novel Obturation Point”. At the centre of our self-sealing ProPoints is a poymer core that not only gives the point stability allowing the dentist to confidently place it, but also increases the radiopacity of the point so it can be clearly seen on x-rays. Conventional injection moulders had issues with several aspects of the core manufacturing process including the high aspect ratio flow path (the cores are long and thin), and the required high filler content (to make it radiopaque). Ben and his team at The Centre for Micro and Nano Moulding undertook a short research program on our behalf which assessed the processibility of our cores by investigating moulding feasibility, including compounding optimisation and high shear rate rheometry experiments. This strong industry-university collaboration with Bradford University was formed and the process to produce the highly accurate 3-d profile we needed was perfected. Our Operations Director Paul Holden recently featured as a speaker at the “Polymers in Dentistry” event run by the Knowledge Transfer Network. Talking about our unique ProPoints, Paul explained how the two different types of polymers in the point work together to create a product that’s not only extremely effective but easy to use. Paul also spoke about the design and production issues and achievements, and how Bradford University played a key role. Ben Whiteside from Bradford University used SmartPoint (our Mk 1 points) as a case study in his presentation at the same event- a brilliant double act! You can check out all the speaker presentations on the KTN website… https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/polymers/dentistry 7 April, 2011: DRFP Ltd (SmartSeal), the Sheffield-based specialist dental technology company is delighted to announce that it has won the Gold award in the Dental equipment, instruments and supplies category at the Medical Design Excellence 2011 awards (MDEA) for its innovative ProPoint obturation product. The MDEA competition, the premier international awards programme for the medical technology community recognised the innovation, ease-of-use and end-user benefits ProPoint provides. ProPoint, combined with SmartPaste, forms a unique two-part obturation system, SmartSeal, that is used by dentists for root canal treatment. The advanced polymer technology that DRFP employs in its system means that dentists no longer have to rely on Gutta Percha, a product historically used to make golf balls and sub-sea telegraph cables, to fill root canal cavities. Commenting on the win, Dr Jerry Watson, Founder and Clinical Director, DRFP Ltd said: Key Product Info: Following a fantastic response to our fully radio-opaque ProPoints, we decided to see what American dentists thought of the SmartSeal range (although we’re branded as ProSmart outside of the UK). We had a much smaller stand, but a great response from everyone over there in Boston, so much so that we followed the trip up the following week with a run of seminars! It was lovely to see many of our customers as well as new faces at this years BDTA. We were inundated with requests for samples and recieved loads of compliments about the stand! We’ll be in touch with you all soon to find out how you got on with our fab new propoints! It’s been a crazy few months in the SmartSeal camp with seminars running all over the place, from the UK to across the Atlantic! World domination here we come…! The team behind smartseal have won a national award for innovation and technical collaboration at the recent Plastics Industry Awards (PIA). The awards were presented at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, W1. Known as the ‘Oscars’ of the polymer industry, smartseal won the award Best Technology Application. Each of the categories has its own panel of judges with expertise in that field. PIA judges felt the smartseal project was a great example of innovation and technical collaboration. The judges commented that “The combination of material formulation, sophisticated tooling and micromoulding shows all the benefits of a collaborative approach. This uses innovative polymers in an application where the materials have never been used before”. The Plastics Industry Awards are recognised throughout the industry as a sign of being the best of the best! The smartseal team was delighted to recieve a ‘highly commended’ Exhibition Stand Award at the Dental Showcase 2009, for demonstrating a high standard of stand design and layout, and a proactive approach to exhibiting and selling products and services. Jerry Watson, Chief Executive of smartseal, says: “The entire team had a hand in the design of our stand so we are all absolutely delighted that our efford have been acknowledged so positively. Our aim was to rovide the ideal environment for dentists to try products from the smartseal range.” The striking, water-themed stand included cylindrical bubble displays in the trademark pink smartseal uses for its packaging, large screens displaying product information and white podium where smartseal representatives could give demonstrations. The overall effect was eye-catching, futuristic and welcoming, ideal for attracting visitors to the stand to fond out about the full range of smartseal‘s innovative products. smartseal are delighted to tell you that our new point – propoint – is now fully radio-opaque! After considerable effort, the team at smartseal have created a fully radioopaque hydrophilic polymer obturation point called propoint. This product has been developed following feedback from practitioners who said they found smartpoints easier and quicker to use but requested the point be more radio-opaque so as to be more consistent with other products. A study by C. Gogos at the Department of Endodontology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece Grenada has shown that the push-out bond strength of smartseal is as good as GP with AH 26 (various techniques). International Endodontic Journal, 42, 2009, 1163. The classic textbook considered a must for any dentist and on many a reading list has recently been revised and updated to its sixth edition. smartseal features on page 147. Check it out! Paul speaks out…
Polymers in Dentistry Event
DRFP WINS PRESTIGEOUS AWARD!!
DRFP (SmartSeal) takes top honours with its ProPoint at the 2011 Medical Design Excellence Awards
“The MDEA competition pitched ProPoint against some of the most innovative, ground-breaking dental technology from around the world and we are delighted that it has been acknowledged with this honour. This award recognises that ProPoint has significant benefits, not only for the patient because of its effectiveness in root canal therapy, but also for the dental surgeon because of its ease of application using existing techniques, equipment and protocols.”
• DRFP Ltd focuses on providing innovative products to the Endodentist segment of the dental market.
• The only obturation system on the market that uses hydrophilic polymer technology to give excellent results.
• ProPoint is the only obturation product that expands laterally inside the root canal to give a complete 3D seal.
• ProPoint is biocompatible, non-biodegradable and contains no-latex components.
• ProPoint is CE marked and FDA approved.
ProSmart Launched at the Yankee Dental Congress!
BDTA 2010
From Liverpool to Amsterdam to Boston USA!!
smartseal scoops national award
smartseal’s Alexandra Heath and Jerry Watson (centre) collect the award for Best Technology Application.smartseal wins Exhibition Stand Award!
smartseal to launch fully radiopaque propoints
I think you’ll find that we now tick all the boxes! The smartseal system is:
- simple to use
- predictable
- exapnds laterally
- durable
- latex component free
- singly packed
- fully RADIO-OPAQUEMore proof that smartseal creates an excellent seal…
smartseal features in Harty’s Endodontics in Clinical Practice
“As a general Practitioner as well as Clinical Director of smartseal I have been using the system for over 4 years now. It has transformed my endo and I thoroughly recommend anyone to try it.”
Jerry Watson Dentist
Read More
