Frequently Asked Questions

How much air pressure is ideal for powdering?: The Powder Meister® should be connected to a direct air-line with unregulated air pressure. In most dental offices, this will be around 80 PSI. The Powder Meister®'s built-in air regulator will automatically reduce any excess pressure to the exact amount for optimum powder application. Air pressure significantly less than 80 PSI can cause the powder flow to be too little or too much due to the action of the air regulator. In the event that a handpiece hose connection is used to connect to the air supply, the air pressure to this hose should be turned up as high as possible. (more)
I get a small clump of powder when I first start powdering. What's wrong?: Nothing! Any powdering device will have powder settle in the powder nozzle after its last use. This comes out in a small puff. For this reason, we suggest starting the powdering process on the neighboring teeth where this first clump is of no concern.
My powder nozzle is sticking in the on or off position. How can I fix this?: Lack of proper maintenance can cause the nozzle to stick and not function properly. When routine cleaning is not done, accumulated powder can condense inside the nozzle base preventing smooth movement of the nozzle. See the section on maintenance of the nozzle.(more)
After I do the maintenance on the nozzle, how do I get the water out so it doesn't mess up the powder?: Dry the excess water with the air syringe. Any residual water will be expelled during the next powdering process. This water will be followed by clean, dry powder.
No powder is coming out of my instrument. What's wrong?: If the recommended maintenance to the nozzle is not done it is possible that the entrance hole to the nozzle is plugged. This is simple to solve. Disassemble the nozzle with the 1/16 inch hex wrench that was shipped with your instrument. Make sure the entrance hole near the nozzle base is cleaned. (This hole is very tiny and difficult to see unless you are looking for it!) See the section on maintenance of the nozzle.
If the cotton roll in the air-line filter is not changed on a weekly basis, it will accumulate moisture. This accumulated moisture will reduce the amount of air pressure going to the Powder Meister®. Some dental units have suck-back in the air-line that cause imaging powder to actually be drawn back into the air hose. If the air pressure is reduced too much, this powder can cause the air hose to clog. It is easy to clean this clog out with orthodontic wire. (more)
Do I need to filter the imaging powder?: No. The new design Powder Meister® eliminates the need to filter the powder. The combination of the air turbulence and the very small entrance hole at the base of the nozzle break up the lumps that are present in imaging powder.(more)
I'm getting too much powder out of the nozzle. What's the problem?: Are you using ProCad powder? This brand of imaging powder is not recommended in the Powder Meister®.; Are you using too much powder in the bottle? The more powder in the bottle, the greater the amount of powder spray.; It is possible that your air pressure is too low. The air regulator will function best at completely unregulated air pressure (around 80 PSI).
Why is Vita imaging powder the only powder recommended in the Powder Meister®?: Vita and ProCad imaging powders have completely different characteristics when propelled by air. We had a choice of designing an instrument that performs optimally with only one powder or satisfactorily with both. We chose optimum performance! Since the image that results from ProCad powder is quite grainy due to the silicone dioxide it contains and since ProCad powder is quite difficult to clean out of the mouth, Vita imaging powder was our choice for the Powder Meister®. Using ProCad imaging powder in the Powder Meister® results in snow drifts in the image. (more)
Do I have to use the imaging liquid?: Using the imaging liquid will help hold the powder against the tooth. It is possible to powder without this liquid, but you will notice small areas of the prep where the powder has been blown off the tooth by the force of the air. Un-powdered areas can cause problems with the restoration! See the section on powdering basics.
I see dark splotches on my intensity image. They weren't there when I was done powdering. What are they?: Be sure to completely dry the imaging liquid after application. If the liquid has not been dried, the moisture seeps through and dampens the surface of the powder causing the dark areas. It will greatly help if you use ProCad imaging liquid. (more)
How much powder should I put on the tooth?: Just because the tooth looks white to your eye after powdering doesn't mean that the infrared camera will be satisfied. It is my observation that most clinicians under-powder the preparation. (more)
Do I need to microwave the powder?: With the older style Powder Meister®, it was helpful to microwave the powder to remove any moisture that collected from the air-line. However, the new design Powder Meister® has a built-in air-line filter which eliminates the need for microwaving the powder. Just remember to change the cotton roll in the air-line filter about once a week!
I've heard it is helpful to put rice in the powder bottle. Is that so?: Do not do this! Placing rice in the powder was an attempt to reduce moisture in the powder. This is unnecessary and can cause the instrument to clog. Above all, don't put rice in the bottle and then microwave it. The bottle will explode! There are many urban legends about what to put in the powder bottle. These things range from rice to plastic BBs. Put nothing in the powder bottle except Vita imaging powder. There is absolutely no need to place anything else in the bottle!