Dental application wins Horners Award 2014
The highly innovative ‘self-sealing’ obturation points, Propoints, has been announced as the winner of the Horners Award for Plastics Design and Innovation 2014.
Propoints were designed to replace existing materials and some techniques, which can cause damage to the tooth and increase the chances of reinfections.
For example, Propoints are a single-cone obturator, and so only one Propoint is required per tooth, unlike multi-cone lateral compaction techniques which a) create potential voids within the canal increasing chances of reinfection and b) result in lateral compaction which can potentially cause root fracture through the forces exerted. Propoints solves these problems; through single cone technology and exact fit engineered sizes, no compaction is required and Propoints expansive qualities eradicates voids in the canal. In addition, Propoints as a plastic, unlike GP (a resin based material most commonly used,) do not degrade over time; reducing the chances of retreatment.
Propoints are made up of a central plastic core surrounded by hydrophilic plastic polymer and were specifically developed for the root canal environment and drew upon contact lens technology. They use polymer plastic technology to absorb moisture already in the canal to expand and create a seal. Propoints are a ‘smart’ plastic polymer, as they only expand where there is room to do so and up to a maximum of 20%.
Propoints are ‘clean’, manufactured in a clean-room and individually blister packed, preventing cross-contamination unlike conventional obturation points. Propoints provide dentists fast, safe, bio-compatible specifically designed innovative product which requires no additional equipment or techniques. CE marked and FDA approved.
The judges were also delighted to nominate the Powerhoop, developed by Innertrak, for the Horners’ Runner Up award. This is a specialized fitness hoop, verified by Canada’s University of Waterloo Spine Biomechanics Laboratory, to reduce the waist size, tone and improve core strength.