The apple-scented formula contains aloe vera to keep hands soft and smooth while killing most common bacteria.

Dentistry is a hands-on profession in the most literal sense. The stress put on clinicians’ hands doesn’t have to result from the motion of scaling or drilling, as wear and tear often comes from the simple, yet constant, task of washing, sanitizing, and repeating. It’s the one crucial task required of all employees, and it often leads to dry skin or as one dentist put it, “dermatitis-like symptoms.” In fact, 75% of Dental Product Shopper evaluators who sampled Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer by Air Techniques indicated that dryness of hands was the problem or challenge that they were looking to address.

Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer is made with 66.5% ethyl alcohol, meeting CDC recommended guidelines. If the hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is adequate and effective hand hygiene. As one hygienist put it, “I feel more apt to use a hand sanitizer rather than having to run to a sink and wash when it isn’t necessary.” Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer scored highly across all evaluation criteria, and its excellence is apparent in the fact that 100% of evaluators who participated said they would recommend this product to colleagues in the dental profession.

Drying Time

According to Air Techniques, Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs in 15 seconds, and evaporates completely. When asked if the product impacted her chairside experience, hygienist Amy Sherman said, “Yes, I love being able to put gloves on quickly without my hands feelingwet like with my previous sanitizer.”

Quick application and drying time were also important to dentist evaluators. “It is faster and neater than soap handwashing, thus speeding up hand hygiene,” said Dr. Jeff Kosoris. Dr. Larry Leibowitz added, “[I am] able to sanitize [my] hands more frequently.”

Scent

Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer has a pleasant apple scent that evaluators enjoyed. “Some hand sanitizers dry my hands out or smell too strong. I wanted to evaluate this product to see how it compared on both these issues,” explained Donna Shewbert, RDH. She later wrote, “This product left my hands feeling soft and pleasantly scented.” Other comments about the quality of the scent included: pleasant, good, excellent, and nice.

The strong scent of hand sanitizers had been a problem for hygienist Karen Sutherland, and Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer seemed to solve that. “I like the way my hands feel and smell,” she commented. “I always hated using hand sanitizers because of the smell and drying out of my hands—also they would burn if there were any slight cuts. This product is a pleasure to use.”

Softness of Skin After Use

Softness of skin after use was the third most highly rated feature of Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer. Julie Walker, RDH, commented that the “smoothness” was what she liked best. Other hygienists identifi ed the same attribute as their favorite.

Two evaluators offered constructive comments, saying they would have liked if their skin was softer after use. One of them was Dr. Kosoris, who shared the product with his staff. “My staff all said it would be excellent if [their] hands felt softer after use,” he said. However, Dr. Sage White’s team had a different conclusion after using the product. “They all gave it good reviews,” he said.

Feel on Hands & Ease of Donning Gloves After Use

Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer contains aloe vera to add moisture to keep hands feeling soft. The aloe may be why one evaluator noted “a slight stickiness at first until the product dries.” Dr. Barry Morse, a dentist with 25 years’ experience, reported having “a lot of issues dermatologically with dry or sensitive hands” when washing with soap. He reported that Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer was “a little grainy” when first applied, perhaps as he felt the aloe ingredient, but that ultimately he and his assistant, who also has sensitive hands, liked the product. When asked how the product impacted his hygiene regimen, he said, “Quicker turnover of gloves.” Dr. Leibowitz noted that he wanted “less residue in the palm of his hand,” but that the product enabled him to “easily reglove.”

Hygienist Sandra Di Santo also reported that the product felt “a little gritty,” possibly because her hands were damp at the time of application. But she had no trouble sliding her gloves on. She later added, “Overall, it was the best sanitizer I have used.”

Overall Satisfaction

In total, 92% of evaluators said Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer was “excellent” or “very good,” while 83% of the evaluators said they would purchase this product in the future. One evaluator even noted how her office saved money by using fewer paper towels. Dr. Kosoris called the product “a good alternative,” and hygienist Darby Brisbon concluded, “It smells great, it smooths my skin, and it disinfects. What more could you want?”

Monarch-Hydrating-Takeaway

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