This Disposable Prophy Angle Can Help Reduce Infection Risk
The COVID-19 crisis has put dentists, hygienists, and patients at risk, and prompted national guidelines for postponing non-emergency procedures, such as dental cleanings. While coronavirus has shaken the healthcare industry to its core, the “downtime” dental practices currently have may be an opportunity to reevaluate their hygiene protocols.
Unfortunately, it may take some time—beyond the timeframe of these stringent guidelines—before patients and staff members begin to feel comfortable again. We’ll all be looking forward to the day when we can freely shop and visit restaurants. Some patients may even be looking forward to the day when they can return to your practice for their overdue cleaning! Other patients, however, may be concerned about a real “ick” factor that many hygienists have to combat—prophy paste splatter.
Airborne saliva is the last thing patients or hygienists want to experience in the wake of this pandemic. Thankfully, there’s a disposable prophy angle, Ultrapro Tx Sweep, that has been shown to reduce up to 95% of prophy paste splatter. While time allows, you may consider researching this handy innovation from Ultradent. A good place to start is the peer-to-peer evaluation recently published in Dental Product Shopper magazine. In this evaluation, independent evaluators awarded Ultrapro Tx Sweep a DPS “Best Product” designation.
Here’s how it works: Ultrapro Tx Sweep is designed with an innovative brush guard with flexible bristles that greatly reduce splatter by preventing saliva and paste from collecting and roping around the cup. The polishing cup, available in a soft or firm design, sweeps the prophy paste back toward the tooth, allowing the user to continue working with fewer stops for paste refills. Additional benefits include an advanced internal blade design, outer ridges for interproximal cleaning, a short head and slim neck design for better access and visibility, optimal flare, and an ergonomic shape.
“It’s amazing how splatter was basically reduced to zero,” said Monica Rogers, RDH, one of the evaluators. “In my opinion, this is the most innovative angle to come on to the market since I began practicing 20 years ago.” She added that Ultrapro Tx Sweep makes the appointment more efficient because you don’t have to stop to manage a prophy cup that’s wrapped in thick saliva. “I could get in and out of the mouth quickly without having to wipe the cup off. Anything that makes it easier to manage patients and keeps them comfortable and safe without debris flying around is a game changer.”
Convenience and lowering the risk of infection often go hand in hand, with the goal being to minimize your contact with patient saliva as much as possible. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, infection risk was a top-of-mind concern for hygienist evaluators of Ultrapro Tx Sweep. The prime product feature, “reduction in splatter due to brush guard,” received high marks at 4.5 out of 5 possible points. However, an even higher score, “convenience of disposability to reduce risk of infection,” received a nearly perfect 4.9 out of 5 points.
Lynne Ramer, LDH, said Ultrapro Tx Sweep improved her chairside experience, especially because she didn’t have to change lab coats during the day. “Finally, a prophy angle designed to reduce splatter that actually delivers,” she said. “I would highly recommend the Ultrapro Tx Sweep.”
Hygienists also gave high marks to Ultrapro Tx Sweep’s “easy and secure connection to handpiece” and “minimal noise and vibration.” They agreed that this product, which has a 360-degree swivel for easy rotation, improves access to and visibility of the oral cavity as well as efficiency of cleaning and polishing.
Hygienists noted that Ultrapro Tx Sweep is helpful for patients with very active saliva glands and for patients who gag easily. “I work in a pediatric office where the kids are moving and anxious, making visibility difficult; this product helps with less splatter, allowing me to see better in the oral cavity,” said Amanda Adams, RFH.
Rogers added, “It made polishing a faster, easier process. It’s a product that lives up to its promises. Not a single angle was faulty.” Another hygienist concluded, “No more splatter; it doesn’t get any better than that!”
At this point, the only thing better than a disposable prophy angle that prevents splatter is one that can also help lessen infection risk.
Read the full evaluation here, and learn more about Ultrapro Tx Sweep at www.ultradent.com.