by Dr Jamie Workman, PK Richardson Dental, Maroubra, NSW
I’ve always found that while cotton rolls push the tissue out of the way, they doesn’t absorb saliva particularly well. These pads really help to solve that problem.
What’s good about it
The material is super-absorbent, so it’s excellent for kids or patients with hyperactive salivary glands. Once cotton wool gets saturated, the saliva leaks out but these pads turn into a gel that helps maintain a really dry field.
When I’m using a matrix band, I tuck the pad next to the tongue, under the wedges. It stays nicely in place and I don’t have to worry about it. When someone doesn’t like the salivary ejector, this is a great alternative for absorbing that saliva while giving you time to complete the restoration.
No patient has ever commented on them, which is fantastic. They think I’m putting in cotton wool and I have never gone to the extent of explaining otherwise. The pads have no taste and it all stays together in its gel form.
I really find them a valuable addition to the practice.
What’s not so good
Until they are filled with saliva, the pads are very compressible so I sometimes use them in conjunction with cotton rolls. If I want the tongue out of the way and I put in one of the pads, the tongue will often fall back into position. However, by adding a cotton wool roll on top, I achieve distension of the tissue and an open field of view.
Where did you get it
