PerfectPearl

Fatigue Reduction

Dental hygienists have been reported to be at increased risk for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders1 and shoulder/neck muscle imbalance.2 KerrTotalCare states that low vibration, elimination of chatter, and contra angle design reduce fatigue by enhancing wrist, elbow, and shoulder comfort. The soft grip pad makes the angles easy to hold and grip. Seven of the 10 hygienists who evaluated PerfectPearl rated end-of-day fatigue reduction as excellent and 3 rated it as very good to good; 3 “didn’t notice a reduction,” 1 reported “less hand fatigue,” and another said her hands were “very comfortable during use.”

The ergonomics of PerfectPearl, described by 1 evaluator as “very competitive with any of the higherend angles I’ve used,” were rated as excellent by 7 evaluators and as very good by 3. Nine evaluators rated ease of grip as excellent and 1 rated it as very good. One hygienist said the rubber pads “reduced the slip factor,” another “didn’t cramp up,” and an evaluator with tendonitis reported “less fatigue than usual.”

Reduction in vibration was rated as excellent by 7 evaluators, as very good to good by 2, and as fair by 1. Comments ranged from “didn’t notice a reduction” and “a couple angles had gears that grind” to “no chatter or vibration whatsoever…feels like a nondisposable metal angle. It’s that good!”

Ease of Use

Ease of use was rated as excellent by 9 evaluators and as very good by 1. Comments included “very easy to use and adapt” and “fits snugly on the handpiece… easy to release.” One evaluator said it “operated smoothly, and I never had to change it out for jamming up.” Seven evaluators said ease of use was greatly enhanced by the easy-toopen packaging; 1 called it “a cinch,” noting, “I never struggled with a single package!”

Intraoral Access

When asked to evaluate the PerfectPearl cup for stability, dimensions, and flare, 8 evaluators rated it as excellent and 2 rated it as very good to good. Interproximal and subgingival access was rated as excellent by 7 evaluators and as very good to good by 3.

One evaluator said, “This, they hit right on. The cup holds the paste well and flares up under the gingiva.” The evaluator who said the cup “had a different feel and didn’t always work optimally at the cervical” called access “adequate but not outstanding.” Two evaluators reported less need for follow- up brushing or air polishing. One described flare as “unique and effective… accesses difficult-to-reach areas and removes heavy stains beautifully.” The other said, “The webbing polishes the surface of the tooth adjacent to the one I’m polishing.” The hygienist who reported “great interproximal access” said it “didn’t flare enough to go subgingival.” The evaluator who called the cup’s shape “awesome and impressive” said it initially “seemed a little stiff and took a while to get the flare I’m used to. But with continued use, interproximal stain and plaque didn’t stand a chance!”

Access to the angle behind the front teeth was rated as excellent by 5 evaluators, as very good by 4, and as good by 1. Comments ranged from “still needed my loupes and mirror” to “the perfect bend!”

Overall Satisfaction

Eight evaluators called PerfectPearl much better than similar prophy angles, and 9 would definitely recommend them to colleagues.Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent by 8 evaluators and as very good by 2. One evaluator called the spiral grooves “absolutely awesome” and another said, “From opening the package to using them on my patients, they’re truly perfect in every way!”

References

1. Lindfors P, von Thiele U, Lundberg U. Work characteristics and upper extremity disorders in female dental health workers. J Occup Health. 2006;48:192-197.

2. Johnson EG, Godges JJ, Lohman EB, et al. Disability self-assessment and upper quarter muscle balance between female dental hygienists and non-dental hygienists. J Dent Hyg. 2003;77:217-223.