Upon contact with blood or fluids, the product expands and transforms to a clear, viscous gel that fills and adheres to the extraction socket
As an oral surgeon, Dr. Kevin Neshat knows it’s not always easy to stop patients from bleeding post extraction. And Dr. Ravichandra Juluri, a periodontist, recognizes that not all hemostatic products have the bulk to fill a socket after an extraction. What if there was one that was easy to place, conformed to the socket, stopped the bleeding, and saved chair time? Introduced in 2017, Medicom’s SafeGauze HemoStat Topical HemoStatic Dressing was designed to do just that.
As an oral surgeon, Dr. Kevin Neshat knows it’s not always easy to stop patients from bleeding post extraction. And Dr. Ravichandra Juluri, a periodontist, recognizes that not all hemostatic products have the bulk to fill a socket after an extraction. What if there was one that was easy to place, conformed to the socket, stopped the bleeding, and saved chair time? Introduced in 2017, Medicom’s SafeGauze HemoStat Topical HemoStatic Dressing was designed to do just that.
Ease of Placement and Ability to Conform to Extraction Site
Prepared by the chemical treatment of regenerated cellulose, the topical hemostatic dressing absorbs water and quickly turns to gel within seconds, making it easy to place in the socket, according to the manufacturer. The gelatinous mass fills the wound void, forming a plug that adheres to the wound and closes off blood vessels. Eventually, the material converts to a gel and then dissolves.
When asked what he liked best, Dr. Juluri shared, “It was easy to pack in the socket and doesn’t stick to instruments.” He said he used the SafeGauze HemoStat instead of a collagen plug and tape, and that it stopped the bleeding and worked well as a dressing in the socket. Several dentists mentioned that the product was easy to use, including Dr. Julio Maya, who suggested that the material should be “stiffer, yet moldable.” Dr. Neshat pointed out that the material conformed to the socket very well, while Dr. Amy Fuller, who liked ease of placement best, said the material needs to conform to the wound more effectively. A couple dentists had trouble with the material adhering to the instrument when it was wet. “It was easy to use,” shared Dr. Tiffany Lee, who liked that the gauzes are small and easy to insert into single extraction sites.
Absorbency and Strength, and Speed of Clot Formed
For effective wound healing, the topical hemostatic dressing quickly transforms into a clear viscous gel, which fills wound voids, seals capillary ends, activates the clotting system, and rapidly helps to stop bleeding, according to the manufacturer. The natural antibacterial properties also promote wound healing.
Navdeep Sandhu, DDS, said SafeGauze HemoStat quickly absorbs blood or fluids, and forms a barrier for clotting, helping to stop bleeding after extractions. “It seemed to initiate great clotting,” Dr. Lee noted. She observed that the clotting was immediate once the gauze was placed, even on medically complicated or compromised patients on blood thinners. Dr. Maya, who used SafeGauze HemoStat after alveolar socket grafting and internal sinus elevation, said the fabric hardened instantly and kept the clot in position effectively. Dr. Neshat revealed, “It stopped the bleeding very nicely” in wisdom tooth sockets after extraction. “I honestly like it better than any other product out there for hemostasis,” Dr. Neshat added.
Overall Time Savings
With convenient packaging, easy placement, and quick gel transformation, hemostasis occurs quickly with SafeGauze HemoStat, according to Medicom. There is no need to suture over the topical hemostatic dressing because it stays securely in place. All of these factors add up to time saved for the practice.
Calling it effective, economical, and a time saver, Dr. Stan Levsky said SafeGauze HemoStat definitely saved him chair time, and the packaging is more convenient than his previous product. Dr. Juluri said he really liked the easy-to-use foil packs, but suggested that perforated foil would make it even easier to open them one piece at a time in a sterile area. “The individual unit dose packaging instills a security for the patients and practitioner,” noted Dr. Lee, who recommended that Medicom improve the instructions provided with the product. Dr. Maya liked the “setting time” best, and Dr. Sandhu said he was able to “dismiss patients immediately after extraction due to hemostasis achieved.”
Overall Satisfaction
All of the evaluators said they would recommend this topical hemostatic dressing to colleagues, including Dr. Stuart Zaller, who said he got great results and achieved hemostasis quickly. A periodontist, Dr. Griselle Ortiz-Ramsey, rated her overall satisfaction as excellent and said that SafeGauze HemoStat is another good tool to have in the operatory. And perhaps Dr. Lee summed it up best by saying, “It’s a great product to have in your back pocket for patients who might bleed a lot.”
