Heraeus Kulzer Launches xantasil® Alginate Substitute to Enhance Practice Efficiency
Unlike alginates, new silicone-based product allows tear resistance, dimensional stability and multiple pouring
South Bend, Ind. —Heraeus Kulzer, LLC, the worldwide leader in dental esthetics, announced today the North American launch of xantasil®, its new alginate substitute. The medium-viscosity, addition-curing silicone is a state-of-the-art, superior alternative to traditional alginates for taking impressions for temporaries, orthodontic models, splints and opposing jaw models. Specifically designed for the requirements of anatomical impression taking, xantasil offers impressive long-term dimensional and storage stability as well as easy handling.
While alginate impressions can be fabricated quickly and economically, they suffer from several disadvantages. Perhaps their biggest limitations are their low dimensional stability and tear resistance. In addition, alginate impressions must be cast as quickly as possible due to their high water content and the resulting dimensional changes due to excessively moist or dry storage, which is difficult to compensate for clinically. Depending on the time requirements, the transfer to an external laboratory can also represent a major problem. Moreover, multiple casting of alginate impressions is not possible without a considerable loss in precision.
xantasil is designed to fill the void between alginates and high-end silicones by allowing practices to economically enhance their productivity without compromising patient care. With an eye toward increased efficiency, only light drying of the tooth surface is necessary prior to placing the impression tray to obtain a precise anatomical impression. High-speed, automatic mixing with the Dynamix® speed mixing device and Automix cartridges in conjunction with a dispensing gun ensures excellent and consistent mixing quality. This provides the dentist with a homogeneous, void-free mixed impression material with reproducible properties and allows fast and hygienic processing free of dust and contamination.
Moreover, xantasil’s short time in mouth, combined with its sufficient working time, enhances patient comfort and convenience while reducing stress for clinicians. The high strain in compression and elastic recovery of the impression material facilitate convenient removal from the mouth and model, while the low final hardness allows fast and easy trimming of the impression.
“Alginates can be an obstacle to a dental practice’s productivity,” said Lesley Melvin, Senior Product Manager for Heraeus Kulzer. “They can be deficient in tear resistance, dimensional and storage stability, as well as when used for repeated pouring of models. In contrast, xantasil offers practices long-term dimensional stability, which facilitates either immediate or later pouring with exceptional accuracy.” She added that xantasil also offers advantages over high-end silicones, which often appear exaggerated for anatomical impressions or for fabricating temporary dentures, and can be costly and time-consuming. As a further enhancement to practice efficiency, impressions made with xantasil can be disinfected easily, thoroughly, and without swelling.
To keep its customers up-to-date regarding product developments, special promotions, educational offerings and other value-added services, Heraeus is asking customers to register on its new MyDental360 website. In return, customers can choose a free product sample. Click here to sign up.
For more information on Heraeus Kulzer or its products, call (800) 431-1785 or visit www.heraeusdentalusa.com.