TurboSensor+ Puts the Power in Power Scaler
Powerful and easy-to-use ultrasonic scaler offers ergonomic benefits for clinicians and a more comfortable scaling experience for patients
An invaluable asset to the hygiene appointment, the ultrasonic scaler is adept at breaking up hardened calculus deposits better and faster than hand scaling alone. And while for years, hygienists everywhere have faithfully relied on Parkell’s TurboSensor to accomplish this task, the tried-and-true ultrasonic scaler just got even better.
The TurboSensor+ Ultrasonic Scaler is designed to make the scaling experience more pleasant and productive for both patients and hygienists. The recently released scaler brings the reliability and performance of previous models and adds in a host of new features designed to enhance the scaling experience on both sides of the chair. And, a selection of 5 vibrant colors adds to its patient—and practice—appeal.
Alyssa Robie, RDH, who practices at Spindel General and Cosmetic Dentistry in Manchester, NH, has been using the TurboSensor+ for several months, and points to multiple features that make it the go-to scaler in her practice.
An Ergonomic Powerhouse
“This TurboSensor+ is a powerhouse!” Robie shared. “The amount of power I can get out of this relatively small-sized unit is fantastic. It’s easy to use, economical, made in the U.S., and ergonomically beneficial for the clinician.”
While many clinicians and hygienists struggle with hand fatigue and other muscular disorders originating from the repetitive hand motions necessary for periodontal debridement, the TurboSensor+ has an ergonomic design for superior comfort and control. A perfectly sized handpiece creates a seamless transition between the end of the handpiece and the grip on most comfort-style inserts.
“The previous handpiece was a bit skinnier,” Robie observed. “This one’s a bit thicker and a little wider toward the bottom, which means it sits more comfortably in your hand.”
Built-In Timer for Waterline Purging
The TurboSensor+ features a streamlined setup with a more compact transformer and power cord for easier installation, a new reduced-power handpiece priming mode for added protection of electronic components, enhanced water pressure control, and a new tap-on purge functionality for waterline cleansing.
“A convenient feature for purging my line is 2 built-in timers which makes purging very easy because a light comes on and it times itself for the recommended amount,” Robie said. “We follow the CDC infection control guidelines for purging at the beginning and end of the treatment day, as well as in between patients, and the built-in automatic timer for each time I purge the line makes the process easy.”
“The amount of power I can get out of this relatively small-sized unit is fantastic. It’s easy to use, economical, made in the U.S., and ergonomically beneficial for the clinician."
- Alyssa Robie, RDH
Detachable and Autoclavable Handpiece
TurboSensor+ includes another add-on feature not available on its predecessor, which is a detachable, autoclavable 30K handpiece for enhanced instrument reprocessing. The handpiece is only compatible with the TurboSensor+ ultrasonic scaler.
“After I’m done using the handpiece, I simply twist the base of the handpiece and it pops off, I bag it, and then run it through the autoclave,” Robie said. “When I need a new one, I just twist the bottom of the handpiece, it clips into place, and I’m off and running. I think that because of COVID-19, patients have a heightened sense of infection control, and it’s comforting for them to see me open up a sterilized bag with the handpiece that’s been run through the autoclave.”
IntelliSense Processor
Additionally, the TurboSensor+ also employs a brand-new IntelliSense processor, a feature that ensures consistent performance with all market-leading 30K inserts. “This is a very helpful feature, because it means that other ultrasonic tips that are 30K compatible can just be dropped into the handpiece, and you’re good to go, which means if you invest in this ultrasonic, you won’t have to replace all your ultrasonic tips,” Robie shared.
Foot Pedal Power
The TurboSensor+ allows clinicians to regulate the level of power via a foot pedal, a convenient feature that departs from the model’s predecessor and many similar models on the market.
“If you are proceeding with a treatment and you come upon a heavy deposit of calculus, and you need a little extra power to remove it, you just need to lift your foot up, give a firm press to the foot pedal, and you get what’s called the turbo boost,” Robie explained. “Other units I’ve used required me to stop what I was doing, turn behind me, increase the power by changing the setting on the unit, turn back around, go back into the mouth, and then proceed. This was disruptive to the patient, as well as uncomfortable, and inefficient for me because it took up extra time. With TurboSensor+, I can keep things moving, which reduces any patient anxiety caused by stopping and then restarting the procedure.”
Comfort and scaling rarely find themselves in the same sentence, but in the case of TurboSensor+, Robie said many of her patients have told her their prophy treatment was more comfortable than with other scalers.
“The level of comfort overall has been fantastic,” Robie shared. “My patients have reported reduced sensitivities, and increased comfort compared to their treatments with other scalers.”
Robie believes that the foot pedal control that allows for an added boost of power and prevents interruptions during scaling, along with tips that are more rounded and less rigid, both play a role in patient comfort and possibly contribute to “less zings” for patients. Plus, with 5 color options, TurboSensor+ can actually be a “fun” addition to operatories.
“In our office, we have the lilac one, which matches our chairs, and really fits the whole operatory. The color options are a fun little feature!”
