GAP Magazine Clear Idea Volume 5

www.acasociety.com | info@acasociety.com 7 Generic Although the Pultool and The Ortho Key are the main branded ones I am aware of, there are a number of companies selling generic removal tools. These look very similar in shape and size. A word of caution, having used one, I found that although in the surface it looks similar, the finish of the product is not the same. I have had one fracture when trialling it. brought it out and to her credit it seemed to work really well. She was quite proud of it also and said to me that we should invent something together. That is when I looked into these aligner removers and she wasn’t the only one. I ordered her a Pultool and she admits it’s a lot better than her improvised spoon/tissue tool. So, overall, what you want to look for when deciding on it Price: Most removal tools range from $4.00 – $8.00. Given that most dentists and orthodontists don’t charge patients for these accessories, find one that provides you “best bag for your buck”. And also think to yourself whether you should include it in EVERY case, or only cases with a large number of attachments or if a patient asks for it. Availability: Although there’s a market, it’s not a huge market. So think about availability and whether you’re best to buy in bulk rather than buying in small amounts. Especially since these tools don’t really expire. Minimal trauma to gum: A key criteria should be assessing shape of the removal tool and how easy it may be to potentially traumatise the gum if a patient doesn’t use it ideally. The more branded products seem to factor this in a lot more. Easy to use: The removal tool must be very easy to use or else you will find that patients end up just not using it. It makes no sense for them to use if if they find removing the aligners by hand is actually easier. Also, you don’t want to spend a lot of clinical time showing them how to use it. Easy to carry: I have found that the tools that fit inside the container are more likely to be used than ones that don’t. Do patients actually need it: In my clinic, I have it there as an optional accessory. I don’t charge for it, but don’t give it out to everyone. To minimise wastage and unnecessary cost, I will let them know about it and if they’re interested, I’ll give them one. If they straight out tell me they won’t likely use it, I don’t give one to them. I also assess this based on how much a patient has difficulty removing the aligners in the chair with me during insert. Removal tool from 1122 Corp Another tool that I have tested is the aligner removal tool from 1122 Corp. In contrast to the other tools, this one is made of metal. Size and strength wise, it is very good. However, aesthetically it is not as inviting or playful as the other mentioned tools that have bright colours. Spoon with tissue Lastly, I thought I’d put this in here as this was the reason that prompted me to look into these accessories. In early 2018, a patient of mine was finding it hard to remove her aligners at home without hurting her nails. Unbeknownst to me, she started using a teaspoon wrapped up in absorbent tissue to click the aligners out. One time in the chair, I asked the patient to remove her aligners and she B lockchain technology is sometimes known as the younger sibling of its big brother technology, Artificial Intelligence. The automation of business systems and processes through software development is nothing new in the world of business. The difference now is there are new technological ways for individuals to share data or value in the form of money, which allows the development of more advanced software algorithms which automatically allow the integration of large-scale business data. Blockchain technology facilitates this. These algorithms also have the power to change the way we diagnose, manage, and treat patients in the modern age. The autonomous sharing of diagnostic data helps us exchange information freely and has the potential to improve the efficiency of artificial intelligence algorithms. The free exchange of data and information without restrictions or bottlenecks is termed “frictionless”. As time goes on with the further development of software including older stand-alone “local” software and more modern cloud-based applications, blockchain technology has the potential to unlock and integrate large-scale datasets. These algorithms are only as powerful as the size and volume of the data fed into these applications, thus high quality, high volume data is pivotal to developing better algorithms to aid patient treatment. Often, modern digital data is colloquially known as black gold or the new oil in the business sector. This data is currently “siloed” in different databases and software applications, within a variety of different institutions (private industry, government, and educational institutions). Our goal at Healthera.AI is to enable access to this data that is faster and easier than any other method currently possible, so all types of companies and institutions can access this data easier and faster than ever before. Simply put, “Digital Data Improves Dental Diagnoses.” Blockchain technology By Dr Rahul Reddy