Favorite Tools to Polish & Protect

Splatter can never really be considered a good thing, and especially not in the hygiene operatory. That makes any tool designed to minimize unwanted debris during dental cleanings a win for everyone involved.

Enter the ACCLEAN Disposable Prophy Angle, a DPS Recommended Product that has quickly become a go-to tool among readers. Amber Metro-Sanchez, RDH, BA, recently used it to polish a patient with a smaller-sized mouth and staining on the upper and lower anteriors.

“I was readily able to access those areas and remove the stain efficiently,” she said. “I really like the color of this pro-phy angle, as well as the splatter control. It was consistently reliable and performed well in my patients’ mouths.”

Color-coded body and cup types allow for easy identification and organization, while the prophy angle’s grip is designed for ideal control and tactile sensitivity.

“Too many prophy angles use unnecessarily large packaging,” Metro-Sanchez added. “I like how the packaging for the ACCLEAN prophy angle is smaller and more earth-friendly. For a lower-priced prophy angle, I’m very impressed with its overall quality.”

According to Donna Grzegorek, BS, RDH, PHDH, FADHA, the ACCLEAN Disposable Prophy Angle “checks many boxes for the clinician,” including no splatter, vibration, or chatter, and easy-to-open packaging that saves time. 

“The cup adapted well to the handpiece and was effort-less to place and remove,” she said, adding that the prophy cup was especially effective at removing interproximal stain on heavy smokers and coffee drinkers, which reduced scaling time and gave her more time to educate patients.

“More communication time with the patient facilitates enhanced relationships, which leads to trust," Grzegorek added, "and trust in a clinician-patient relationship ultimately leads to better and faster treatment acceptance."

A Smooth Polishing Performance

Another favorite product for DPS readers is the ACCLEAN Prophy Paste with TCP. In addition to its excellent stain removal and polishing performance, the paste enhances fluoride activity with the addition of tricalcium phosphate, which may help enhance remineralization and prevent demineralization.*

“When polishing, I like the remineralization aspect of this paste, which has become a more frequent focus for patients, who ask me about toothpastes with this ingredient, too,” said Michele Byrd, RDH. “It goes on well with less splatter and is smooth and easy to polish with.”

Available in 3 flavors—mint, cherry, and bubblegum—and 4 grits—extra coarse, coarse, medium, and fine—the paste left a strong impression on hygienist Jody Ebert.

“This paste was amazing!” she shared. “Plaque removal is very effective and the stain-removing capability is great.”

Safety in Style

Finding reliable PPE isn’t as simple as it sounds, especially with many counterfeit items in the marketplace, which don't always live up to safety standards.

That’s where CRITERION—a complete line of masks, gloves, garments, and protective eyewear—bridges the gap between durability, comfort, and affordability.

As one DPS reader pointed out, seeing the CRITERION logo sewn into the mask is a good indicator of a quality product.

“The logo adds sophistication and quality assurance to the masks,” said Malee Wong, RDH. “It’s a well-designed mask that meets ASTM performance standards, which sets it apart from so many masks that are being sold today.”

While CRITERION masks come in a variety of colors—blue, lavender, pink, yellow, white, and teal—the black color offers dental professionals unique benefits.

“It’s sleek, comfortable, and most importantly, protective,” Wong said, adding that the black hue is less medical looking and less intimidating for patients.

“Most masks purchased on the ‘gray market’ don’t specify filtration level, and I believe that wearing any of those would be similar to not wearing any mask at all,” Wong noted. “With CRITERION masks, I can be assured they’ll be top-notch, high quality, and highly protective.”

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