Exploring the ‘Best’ Ways to Maximize Efficiency

When it comes to trying out a new dental product, there’s always a fair amount of trepidation. Will the product really work as advertised? Can it solve any clinical or workflow challenges? How effective will it be in daily practice, and will it save valuable time? Hygienist Donna Grzegorek asked herself every one of these questions before putting Henry Schein’s MaxiWipe Alcohol-Free Wipes to the test last year. But as it turns out, she had absolutely nothing to fear.

“Our team often complained about wipes that had an offensive odor, were drying to the equipment, left a residue, or were too saturated with sterilizing solution,” she explained. “MaxiWipe Alcohol-Free Wipes addressed all the above issues wonderfully. If the hygiene team is happy, then the day has a successful outcome!”

Where Quality Meets Value

Grzegorek was one of several DPS evaluators who tried MaxiWipes last year. Thanks to her insights, the alcohol- and fragrance-free wipes became a DPS Best Product—one of nearly a dozen that Henry Schein has accumulated over the past few years. And it’s easy to see why.

For example, when Grzegorek and her team members used the MaxiWipes on surfaces in their Barrington, IL, dental office, they immediately noticed visible dirt on the wipes that wasn’t removed by other brands’ products.

“MaxiWipe Alcohol-Free wipes is really a great product,” she added. “The larger size is wonderful for chairs and large countertops, and the smaller size sheets are great for all other surfaces. These wipes are virtually odor free, non-drying due to not having alcohol in the formula, and are evenly moistened but not saturated to the point of dripping. We used 2 full containers, and not one of the wipes tore while using."

In the following pages, we highlight many more of Henry Schein's DPS Best Products, exploring key insights from the dental professionals who put them to task and were pleasantly surprised by their easy reliability in everyday practice.

ACCLEAN to the Rescue

When it comes to hygiene treatment, a fast, reliable workflow is everything—and that’s exactly what the ACCLEAN family of preventive solutions is designed to do. Leveraging a unique color-coded system that organizes products across the hygiene visit and through home care, ACCLEAN helps hygienists stay organized.

“Equipment that improves a clinician’s already busy day is the type of equipment that is a 10/10 in my book!” said Mandy Macachor, RDH, BS, who evaluated the ACCLEAN Hygiene Handpiece 2 for DPS. “This quieter handpiece improves patient comfort for those who dislike the noise. Not one of my many nervous/anxiety-ridden patients felt uncomfortable with this handpiece," she continued.

The autoclavable handpiece is easily maintained with a simple, efficient no-lube motor. It is available in a standard or swivel model, which features quick disconnect for better maneuverability.

“I liked that the handpiece is easy to connect and easy to sterilize and maintain,” Macachor said, while Kristi Evansen, RDH, noted, “It was easy to attach and remove, which made setup and cleanup more efficient. I loved that it didn’t need to be oiled.”

Prophy Paste That Packs a Punch

The ACCLEAN Hygiene Handpiece 2 pairs well with ACCLEAN Prophy Paste with TCP. Splatter-free, it enhances fluoride activity with the addition of tricalcium phosphate, which may help enhance remineralization and prevent demineralization.* It also offers excellent stain removal and polishing performance.

“Initially, when I looked at and felt the ACCLEAN Prophy Paste with TCP, I thought it wouldn’t be as effective at removing stain, as the particles seemed much smaller and smoother than my previous prophy paste,” said Allison Koska, RDH. “I was pleasantly surprised that the paste was superior at stain removal and rinsed much easier.”

Not one of Koska’s patients has complained about residual grittiness since she started using the paste, and most have deemed the taste excellent. “The addition of TCP to the paste is an interesting idea, and burnishing it into the enamel is a great method of delivery,” she added.

Maximize Your Maintenance

Henry Schein’s Maxima line of handpieces and small equipment offers products that blend high performance with ease of use and reliability.

The lineup includes DPS Best Product Maxima Advanced Ultrasonic Cleaner MA210, which is engineered for powerful cleaning. Using advanced technology, it offers industry-leading fast cycle times—5 minutes for 1 layer of loose instruments or cassette and 10 minutes for 2 layers.

Deeming the ultrasonic cleaning unit “magical,” hygienist Melanie Davis was impressed by how quietly and effectively it cleaned heavily soiled instruments. “I ran it through a 5-minute cycle, and when I came back, the debris and blood had been removed,” she said.

DPS evaluators also appreciated the MA 210’s large, 2.1-gallon tank, which hygienist Michelle Byrd said was great for her office’s high volume of hygiene instruments. “The size of the basket made it easier to bag the instruments for sterilization without being overcrowded,” added Linda Kovary Bell, RDH.

For Susie Worm, DMD, who last year relocated her established dental practice in Lincoln, NE, to a newly built office space, it was the idea of investing in a product made by her trusted distributor that sealed the deal on purchasing the MA210.

“When we look at equipment, we want to know who’s manufacturing it and whether they’re going to back us up, because things do happen,” Dr. Worm shared. “I love that if I only have 1 layer, I can do it in 5 minutes, which is just really quick. Not only will it clean quicker, but I’m also confident that it will hold up over time.”

Easy on Instruments and the Eyes

The compact yet powerful MA210 is a welcome addition to the sterilization center in Dr. Worm’s new practice, which is set behind clear glass and easily visible to passing patients.

The sleek, modern sterilization center also includes the Maxima Turbo Class B Sterilizer, another powerhouse cleaning unit that uses triple-vacuum technology to leave instruments sterile and dry in 15 minutes. Plus, a superfast emergency mode sterilizes unwrapped instruments for immediate use in just 7 minutes.

“I feel like it’s much quicker than what I’ve used before, and I also like that it shows on the face of it where it is in the running cycle,” Dr. Worm said.

PPE That Meets Every Criteria

Henry Schein’s CRITERION product family offers a head-to-toe solution for comfortable masks, gloves, garments, and protective eyewear. Color- coded packaging with reorder numbers and information zones clearly labeled on each box make it easy for offices to shop and restock.

DPS Best Products include the CRITERION Earloop Masks (formerly Maxi-Gard Air Procedure Masks), which feature innovative Air Space Technology, which enhances air flow space for improved breathability. Contoured for full coverage, the ASTM Level 1 masks are made of soft, nonirritating, latex-free material.

“I felt like I could breathe better with this mask,” said Diane Plaskow, RDH, adding that the mask is perfect for everyday use. “It was easy to wear, and I never had any issues with fogging while wearing my loupes," hygienist Dawn Hines said. "I was pleasantly surprised and very happy with the masks."

A Great Fit with Zero Risk

Another practice winner is CRITERION Low Derma Nitrile Exam Gloves (formerly CRITERION Pure Freedom), which are made without the use of chemical accelerators or sulfur to prevent type-I and type-IV allergic reactions. “I can treat patients who have latex allergies and not even worry if some of them don’t know if they are allergic,” Dr. Roy Joseph noted.

Available in 5 sizes in a unique slate blue color, the gloves are soft and comfortable with textured fingertips to improve grip. Lauding the “cool dark blue color” of the gloves, Michelle Goodrow, RDH, said CRITERION Low Derma were the best gloves she’s used in her 30 years of practice. “The glove fits well and is thin enough to provide excellent tactile sensitivity without being ‘too thin’ that I need to worry about integrity,” she added.

Speaking of cool colors, the ultrathin CRITERION N300 Nitrile Exam Glove comes in 3 eye-catching colors—ice blue, electric blue, and black—the latter of which provides contrast while hiding the appearance of bodily fluids and stains.

A DPS Recommended Product, the gloves are designed for optimal tear resistance and are chlorinated for reduced friction and easy donning. “These gloves are comfortable and durable with excellent flexibility,” said Stephen Rosenberg, DMD. “They have an excellent tactile feel, and it was easy to grip and manipulate instruments, supplies, and materials."

_{*Studies suggest that supplementing fluoride with TCP enhances remineralization and produces stronger, more acid-resistant minerals than fluoride alone.}