To efficiently remove debris from instruments during hygiene appointments, most hygienists use gauze or something similar, including Allison Koska, RDH. “I keep a small stack of gauze on my tray to wipe my instrument, as I don’t like to put it on the patient’s chest or hold it in my hand,” she explained. As Koska points out, using gauze— and deciding where to keep it during a procedure—isn’t always convenient or efficient, and it can be wasteful or unsafe due to the sharp points of the dental instruments.
As a solution, Hager Worldwide created Fit-n-Swipe Clean and Fit-n-Swipe Dry, adhesive pads that are used for cleaning instruments and drying mirrors, respectively. The adhesive backing on the pads sticks to any surface, and “the pads are extremely handy to stick on my tray barrier paper instead of a stack of gauze,” Koska disclosed. “I typically use four or five 2×2 gauzes per patient, but I only needed one piece when I used the Fit-n-Swipe pads.”
Adhesive Backing & Absorbency
The single-use Fit-n-Swipe pads are highly absorbent and feature an adhesive backing that allows the pad to be placed anywhere, including on the hand or finger, an instrument, tray, or patient bib. “Fit-n-Swipe worked wonderfully and secured to any surface,” said hygienist Jenna Hebert. “I like the thickness of both pads and the adhesive that kept them from falling off the bib or table,” noted hygienist Tracy Johnson. “I appreciate that Fit-n-Swipe sticks and stays on the glove, so I don’t have to rely on holding and using gauze,” remarked Mink Lee, RDH. Suggesting that “the paper backing could be perforated or have a tab for easier removal,” Koska said Fit-n-Swipe “was very handy to have stuck to my tray.”
Fit-n-Swipe Clean & Fit-n-Swipe
Dry Ideal for cleaning instruments, Fit-n-Swipe Clean is made of a unique microfiber with a high capacity to absorb and retain moisture and debris. “The pad was very thick and fluffy, and removed all debris with one swipe,” Koska shared. “I placed the Fit-n-Swipe Clean around the mirror handle. I felt this was a safe way to thoroughly remove debris from sharp instruments rather than holding gauze to clean off debris,” commented Kristi Evansen, RDH. Hebert called Fit-n-Swipe a great product that’s thick enough to not puncture, and Karen Dong said she doesn’t need to turn an instrument to wipe it clean “because the pad completely hugs the instrument and it always comes out shiny.” While several hygienists wished the pad was slightly larger, Margaret Conrad, RDH, reported, “With one swipe I can clean the tip of my instrument without having to hold a 2×2 gauze or wipe on the patient’s bib.” Koska confided, “I was surprised how much I liked using the pads to easily clean off blood and calculus.”
With its unique multilayered fabric, Fit-n-Swipe Dry is perfect for cleaning and drying mirrors and even removes greasy or oily contaminants without streaking. “By placing the pad on my glove, it was easy to clean the mirror quickly,” Evansen explained. While Koska and Conrad thought it was not easy to dry the mirror with the Fit-n-Swipe Dry stuck down, hygienist Krista Fogle said, “I was able to wipe my instruments and my mirror effectively” with Fit-n-Swipe Clean and Dry. Noting that “the Fit-n-Swipe Dry can hold great amounts of moisture,” Dong said she “added a couple pumps of the anti-fog solution to the surface, wiped my mirror, and it never dripped.”
Time Savings
The Fit-n-Swipe pads are convenient for hygienists as they no longer have to use gauze to clean their instruments, and the adhesive property of the pads saves time. “The convenience of these products helps me work efficiently, and they were easy to use,” commented Evansen. “There is a learning curve as I am used to using gauze for so many years, but it’s worth the effort. Fit-n-Swipe made the visit easier on me,” shared hygienist Jeanette Crofts. Fit-n-Swipe “makes my workflow more efficient,” added Dong.
Especially in periodontist offices, where clinicians often perform hand scaling and use ultrasonics, hygienists can “benefit from the efficiency of this product,” explained Lee. “The Fit-N-Swipe was convenient, and scaling time was more efficient.” Lee explained how Fit-n-Swipe was beneficial for a patient with very sensitive teeth, poor oral hygiene, limited mouth opening, and who didn’t want any ultrasonics used. “Hand scaling is cumbersome, but being able to wipe instruments on my left hand and wipe my mirror on my right hand made the effort more efficient,” she said. For Conrad, Fit-n-Swipe freed up her time and removed her worries about dropping instruments while cleaning.
