DisCide Ultra combines maximum disinfecting power and efficiency with the convenience of larger wipes and 1-step, ready-to-use simplicity
"Many of the disinfectants on the market today have a very strong, overpowering odor,” hygienist Lee Goodloe noted. In fact, Goodloe added, sometimes clinical personnel refrain from using a surface spray because they dislike the odor so much. Another problem Goodloe has found when using some disinfectant wipes is that they fail to retain sufficient wetness throughout the disinfecting process, which could pose a threat to infection control."
Goodloe was among the dental professionals to try Palmero’s DisCide Ultra surface disinfectant spray and towelettes in their practices for this Dental Product Shopper evaluation. “DisCide Ultra seems to have a milder compound that is not as opposing as many of the other disinfectant sprays,” said Goodloe. “The wipes are quality and much bigger than the typical wipe, leading to retained moisture for increased efficiency.”
According to Palmero, this single-step, ready-to-use surface disinfectant kills pathogens quickly and efficiently, is noncorrosive and nonstaining, has a pleasant herbal scent, and leaves no unsightly residue.
Cleaning Effectiveness
The EPA-registered DisCide Ultra is a quaternary ammonium, intermediate high-level alcohol-based disinfectant that reportedly kills deadly pathogens in one minute or less. While looking for an “easier and quicker way to rotate a room,” hygienist Frances Tryon concluded that the DisCide Ultra wipes were very user-friendly and they dried quickly “with the same killing power we were using.” Kristi Evansen, RDH, found that the disinfectant did a great job of removing residue left behind by other products, therefore making surfaces also look visibly clean. She added, “It felt like it glided over the surfaces quite easily.” Calling DisCide Ultra the best product when it comes to thorough sanitizing, assistant and manager Alessa Allen said the smell was her favorite feature, adding, “You truly get a ‘clean’ smell from them.”
Several evaluators commented on the scent. Goodloe said the odor of the product is milder when compared to others, and Dr. Todd Ryan noted that the smell was pleasant and much better than the previous dental disinfectant wipes his office used. A few evaluators provided less favorable feedback, including Nicole Burke, EFDA, who said, “There is an overwhelming alcohol scent.”
Towelette Size and Moisture
While looking for a product to help her “completely and quickly clean and disinfect surfaces,” Evansen found that the large size of the DisCide Ultra dental disinfectant wipes helped to cover more surface area. Tryon cited the size and thickness of the towelette as a favorite feature. The size of the wipe and length of time it held the disinfectant was what Trupti Nadkarni, DMD, liked best.
Goodloe commented, “The disinfectant wipes were much larger than expected, which in my evaluation, retained more wetness than the typical wipe.” While many lauded the size of the wipes as beneficial for disinfecting, Evansen said the downside was that some of the staff felt it was more difficult to remove the towelette from the container.
Comments about the wetness of the wipes ranged from “[DisCide Ultra] keeps the surface wet instead of drying too quickly,” to “The towelettes did not stay wet for very long,” to “The wipes were plenty wet and allowed more contact time.”
Practice Benefits: Convenience and Efficiency
DisCide Ultra comes in towelettes, spray, and bulk gallon refills for maximum convenience. Fast and effective disinfection accelerates operatory turnover. “[DisCide Ultra] definitely saved time and was very user-friendly,” said Tryon. Referring to the impact on chairside routine, Heather Gunsell, RDH, concluded that it made the workflow go more smoothly because she did not have to use more than one wipe to clean the room. When using the spray, Evansen said she would prefer that it not come out in such a wide, short burst.
Calling DisCide Ultra much better than the leading brand, Goodloe found that he was able to reduce the amount of wipes and/or spray he used. “From an economical standpoint,” he said, “less product is used to accomplish the task.” Allen described the use of DisCide as having “fast, convenient wipes by your side. We were able to get a lot wiped/cleaned with just one swipe.”
Overall Satisfaction
Many evaluators said they would recommend DisCide Ultra dental disinfectant wipes to their colleagues and would purchase the product in the future. Allen said, “It’s better than any other competitive brand. We have already made the switch in my office.” Gunsell summed up her impression of the disinfectant by telling DPS, “I’m glad I got to evaluate these. They are very good and rate very high next to the top name brand I currently use.”
