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Because the pandemic has placed such an emphasis on personal protective equipment (PPE) and other methods of infection control, our editors have fielded many questions about innovative or newly important dental products since dental hygienists have begun returning to work.
To help you navigate all your options, we are highlighting 8 products that are helping dental hygienists practice safely.
Young Splatter Guard Disposable Prophy Angle
How much more effective is the Young Splatter Guard at reducing splatter compared to traditional prophy angles? 15x more effective.
Is this product made in the USA? Yes. This is product is proudly made in the USA out of our Earth City manufacturing facility just outside St. Louis, Missuouri.
Where can I purchase the Young Splatter Guard prophy angle? These can be purchased through Henry Schein, Patterson, or Benco Dental.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
As we have always done, our organization continues to prioritize patient and clinician safety with every product we manufacture and distribute.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
The Young Splatter Guard has been in development for over three years. Thorough market research has identified splatter as the number one pain point for hygienists. We wanted to engineer a prophy angle that solves for this pain point without compromising quality and the Young Splatter Guard does just that.
ClōSys Ultra Sensitive Unflavored Mouthwash + MicroClear Waterline Cleaner
Most dental folks understand now more than ever cross-contamination is a real concern and PPE is essential for reducing the risk.
Most people ask how quickly do the rinse and waterline cleaner work? The answer to that is in 10 seconds. In the new dental office experience, time is critical and dental health-care professionals don’t need to mix things or wait to activate, or wonder if a patient rinsed long enough to be helpful. Because our products are gentle and nonburning, rinsing for more than 10 seconds is easy.
With the waterline cleaner the most frequently asked question is “Is MicroClear safe to use on our equipment? We’ve heard some waterline cleaners can really mess up the office dental equipment.” The answer to this one is that MicroClear is very safe on all types of dental equipment and has been tested by most manufactures of dental equipment. It’s noncorrosive and pH balanced, which means it won’t even alter the taste of the water or the smell.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
We sell our products to retail or dental distribution centers and direct to consumers and dental offices. Fortunately, the biggest challenge has been keeping our antimicrobial products in stock, so we’ve been stretched a bit on our manufacturing. For the most part we’ve handled the upswing in sales very well. We know that our products help reduce the chances for cross-contamination in the office, so we have to keep our products flowing. To do so, we’ve invested in more inventory than we’ve ever carried in our company’s history because we’re concerned about supply chain delays. So, we have higher carrying costs at the moment, but we know it’s temporary until the offices are safely back up to speed and return to somewhat normal business.
Pac-Dent iVisor Loupe Visor and Shield Kit
What are the most frequently asked questions about your product/service related to the pandemic?
Does the new Dove Aero work with HVE? Yes! The New Dove Aero snaps on your existing dental HVE line and uses the higher power to eliminate aerosols and remove fluids.
Does the Dove Aero prevent backflow? Yes! Each Dove Aero has a one-way flap inside each HVE valve to eliminate backflow every time.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
It has placed disposable products in the forefront, particularly evacuation products. We have participated in numerous infection control seminars and Zoom calls and have had countless inquiries about aerosol collection. We have also hired a telemarketing company to service inbound calls, which have increased substantially.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
Dove Dental Products is the only disposable valve company in the marketplace. Our new Dove Aero is the only product that does not compromise patient comfort or professional care. Unlike gagging mouthpieces, low volume leaves, large HVEs used for saliva removal, and large portable vacuums, the Dove Aero uses the tried and true saliva ejector with HVE power for fluid and aerosol collection. No extras, no gadgets, no backflow, no installation and no worries if the device is clean or not. Lastly, we are manufactured in the USA.
GC Fuji Triage
Our customers are currently most concerned about aerosol reduction and limiting the equipment used (and therefore contaminated) during appointments. They want to know if GC Fuji Triage can help with these problems, and it can! Because there is to need to repeatedly rinse and dry the prep, aerosols are greatly reduced, and infection control is greatly improved. Because GC Fuji Triage is a self-curing material, a curing light is not needed, which reduces equipment contamination and additional time needed for disinfection or sterilization. GC Fuji Triage can be applied in approximately three minutes. This is typically less time than needed with many resin sealants, and thus helps to reduce chair time.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
As many dental offices had to halt routine cleanings and elective procedures for a period of time, the focus of our customers switched to emergency dental treatments and infection control. Due to their shifting needs, our team has been working closely with dental offices to provide quality materials to help with emergency treatments and to keep themselves and patients safe through free online education and virtual visits.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
Since the beginning of the pandemic, dentists coast to coast have been realizing the significant benefits of glass ionomer sealants. Dentists and hygienists can feel confident in providing a rechargeable fluoride-releasing sealant to their patients, while also practicing excellent infection control. No sonic or ultrasonic tools, air polishing, or air-water syringes are needed to apply this hydrophilic material.
Enova Illumination Activ Neck Battery + Axis Light Package
The most frequently asked question is whether our products work with PPE. Yes, they do! We have adapted all our products to work with PPE. We are also asked if our products are durable enough to clean with Cavicide. Since our products are made with aircraft aluminum they can be cleaned with Cavicide.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
The pandemic has inspired us to focus on adaptable products that can withstand rigorous cleaning and can be used with or without various types of PPE. While we have always focused on customer service, we are now working even harder to provide fast service as we know that expedited service/equipment is needed.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
Enova has created products that work with PPE. Whether it is face shield–mounted lighting or a battery that you can turn on and off under a sterile gown, we have the customer's needs at the forefront of our product development, especially in these uncertain times. We also know that there may be a backlog of patients, so having premium customer service to handle any questions or needs at all times is essential to us.
Burst Oral Probiotics
Some of the most frequently asked questions we get center around oral-systemic health and the rise of preventive care. Many people are looking to understand their bodies in greater detail—not just when they are ill, but when they are well too.
Our probiotics are what we like to call the ultimate fighters in advanced oral care. These minty fresh, chewable lozenges can help reestablish a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth to naturally protect the teeth and gums from plaque, cavities, bleeding gums, and infection. In conjunction with regular oral hygiene, they can help establish and maintain a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth and upper respiratory system.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
Our ethos has and always will be great oral care for all—and during the pandemic we've doubled down on this and made sure we served both our customer and our ambassadors with the utmost compassion and support by offering great products at a fair price that improve their health and wellness.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
Our proprietary blend of oral probiotic strains was formulated after consulting with our network of over 25,000 dental professionals. We included only the absolute most effective strains to the tune of 6 billion CFU, including a healthy concentration of the MVP strains Blis K12 and Blis M18. Further, they are clinically effective at reducing plaque, gum inflammation, and bad breath.
ProEdge QuickPass In-Office Dental Water Test
What are the most frequently asked questions about your product/service related to the pandemic?
Does the QuickPass align with the COVID-19 CDC guidelines for reopening? Yes.
How often should I be testing? Quarterly (OSAP’s recommendation).
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
COVID-19 has created the awareness that waterline maintenance and testing is a necessary infection prevention focus. So, while ProEdge has increased our investment in digital channels of education—webinars, social media, and videos—we continue to offer complimentary consultations to dental practices to help them learn best practices and improve results.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
John A. Molinari and Nancy Dewhirst published a study that showed 31% of treated waterlines fail to meet the CDC guidelines—that was before COVID-19. All treatment products can and do fail. As the ADA has long stated, the only way to know if the water used for patient care is safe is to actually test the water coming out of the unit.
Additionally, a new paper showed that sources of microbial bioload in dental aerosols said saliva is not the primary source of bacteria in aerosols. Instead, it's dental unit waterlines: "There is little evidence to definitively implicate salivas the primary source of bacteria in these aerosols. Although absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, the available evidence currently points to environmental sources, particularly dental unit water lines, as a major basis of aerosol bacteria in the dental environment."
Dove Aero HVE Saliva Ejector
What are the most frequently asked questions about your product/service related to the pandemic?
Does the new Dove Aero work with HVE? Yes! The New Dove Aero snaps on your existing dental HVE line and uses the higher power to eliminate aerosols and remove fluids.
Does the Dove Aero prevent backflow? Yes! Each Dove Aero has a one-way flap inside each HVE valve to eliminate backflow every time.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed how you serve your customers/clients?
It has placed disposable products in the forefront, particularly evacuation products. We have participated in numerous infection control seminars and Zoom calls and have had countless inquiries about aerosol collection. We have also hired a telemarketing company to service inbound calls, which have increased substantially.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the RDH editors?
Dove Dental Products is the only disposable valve company in the marketplace. Our new Dove Aero is the only product that does not compromise patient comfort or professional care. Unlike gagging mouthpieces, low volume leaves, large HVEs used for saliva removal, and large portable vacuums, the Dove Aero uses the tried and true saliva ejector with HVE power for fluid and aerosol collection. No extras, no gadgets, no backflow, no installation and no worries if the device is clean or not. Lastly, we are manufactured in the USA.
