Why I Use: Profin

A jack-of-all-trades, the Profin Reciprocating System from Dentatus is an ideal instrument for shaping, contouring, and polishing dentition and restorations. But its applications don't stop there. For Jesper Hatt, DDS, the Profi n's flat Lamineer diamond tips that move in a reciprocating axial direction have proved to be the perfect partner for his clear aligner cases—allowing him to do essential IPR with ease. Here, he shares why

We started offering clear aligners to our patients back in 2008. This was a welcome practice booster, but some cases called for interproximal reduction (IPR) to create room for tooth movements during treatment.

While basically any system was better than doing manual IPR with a handheld polishing strip—which felt like it took hours to complete—we quickly realized that many popular IPR solutions were tedious and difficult to use.

For example, traditional rotating instruments were problematic for a number of reasons. First, the discs were difficult to control and prone to colliding with soft tissue such as lips, tongue, or gingiva, which could lead to massive bleeding. Not a good experience for the patient!

We also found burs to be a challenge due to their lack of precision. It was possible to take off more enamel on one tooth than the other, which could lead to dentin exposure and an increased risk of caries. Oscillating instruments also made it hard to achieve the ideal amount of IPR and morphology.

Finally, we tried the Profin Reciprocating System and realized we had found the perfect solution.

The Profin's flat Lamineer diamond tips and contra-angles move in a reciprocating axial direction. I can set them to rotate freely and follow tooth contours naturally, or I can lock them radially for a more controlled reshaping of a surface. The tips are flat and very thin for optimal access, and their calibration makes it easy to achieve a precise result without needing to use a measuring device. Overall, we were thrilled! For us, it is about 15 to 20 times faster—and much more precise—to use the Profin system than any other handheld polishing instrument.

Simple Yet Clever Design

The tips last forever, at least that’s the way it seems, and the handpiece is long lasting. In fact, we’ve kept the original handpiece from the previous practice owner because it still works perfectly due to its simple yet clever design. We also use the Profin Reciprocating System for interproximal correction of composite restorations. It is especially effective in the posterior regions because the small, flat tips provide excellent access in difficult-to-access areas.

I routinely lecture for clear aligner courses, and I never end a course without recommending the Profin Reciprocating System. Why? In addition to all the reasons I just listed, it’s simply made my life and my workflow easier.