Product Evaluation

PRODUCT EVALUATION UPDATE

DPS revisits the evaluation of OAP Cleaner, reporting on updates and checking in with dental professionals who trust this product.

OAP Cleaner Anti-Bacterial Cleaning Solution Evaluation

Made with anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal ingredients, OAP Cleaner disinfects oral appliances in 60 seconds or less

In the midst of a pandemic, the demand for anti-bacterial and anti-viral products has skyrocketed, as more people become hyperaware of the need for protection against harmful viruses and bacteria that can cause serious illness. While sales of hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants are most likely at an all-time high, viruses, bacteria, and fungi are lurking in other places, as well, and one of the best hiding places is right in a patient’s own mouth—in their oral appliance. To keep patients healthy, appliances like aligners, retainers, and mouthguards should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

While clinicians can sanitize patients’ appliances during dental appointments, appliances need to be cleaned regularly, preferably on a daily basis. Thus, patients need to take responsibility for their own health and sanitize their oral appliances at home. Getting patients to comply with an at-home appliance cleaning routine can be difficult, however, which is why OAP Cleaner designed their antibacterial cleaning solution to clean appliances easily and quickly, completing the job in just 60 seconds.

“As we all know, oral hygiene and home care is essential to a patient’s dental and general health,” said orthodontist Dr. J. Brian Hamby. “We want to give our patients tools to make this as easy and effective as possible,” he said, which is why he has recommended OAP Cleaner to patients for several years. Another orthodontist, Dr. Vijay Bhagia, encourages his patients to clean their aligners with OAP Cleaner, and they seem to be getting the message. “If COVID-19 has driven one idea home, it is ‘cleaner is better,’ and people seem to demand a product like OAP for aligners,” Dr. Bhagia said.

Quick & Easy Cleaning Process

Recommended for at least once-a-day use, OAP Cleaner is specially formulated to clean all removable dental appliances and comes in 2 convenient sized bottles (50- or 100-mL) in a gel or foam consistency. The formula is applied with an easy-to-use pump that dispenses just the right amount of solution to clean aligners, dentures, mouthguards, retainers, nightguards, or any oral appliance. Appliances can be cleaned in the dental practice while the patient is in for treatment, and patients can take a bottle home for daily cleaning. OAP Cleaner also comes in convenient single-use packets for on-the-go hygiene.

OAP Cleaner works quickly and is convenient to dispense and use, according to Dr. Bhagia. Just press the pump, spread the solution over the appliance with a toothbrush, scrub the appliance for 1 minute, and rinse the foam or gel away. The formula removes germs, bacteria, plaque, stains, and odors in 60 seconds, which the manufacturer says is a short amount of time compared to other orthodontic and appliance cleaners.

“Everything from packaging to ease of use was great,” said hygienist Donna Grzegorek after using the appliance cleaner and sharing it with her patients. “My patients love the speed at which this product worked. They reported that other products would take up to 20 minutes and preferred this product.” Hygienist Lynn Ramer agreed that OAP Cleaner was easy to use and said, “I like that it can be used at home or chairside in the dental office. All it takes is a brush. No overnight soaking is required. In the dental office, bagging and placing in the ultrasonic cleaner is not required.”

Cleaning Effectiveness

OAP Cleaner kills 99.9% of bacteria and is made with anti-fungal and anti-viral ingredients that leave removable dental appliances clean and sanitized. A mild pH and gentle cleaning agents ensure that appliances will not discolor, warp, or scratch, according to the manufacturer. The solution leaves appliances smelling fresh and clean, according to Wendy Nato, EFDA, who said the minty taste and thorough cleaning were her favorite features. “It cleans and brightens the retainers beautifully, and its anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties are very appealing,” said Dr. Hamby. Ramer was amazed that OAP Cleaner cleaned a 20-year-old retainer so well that it became clear enough to see through. She also said it made a 2-year-old retainer look like new.

Patient Satisfaction

“Patients love OAP Cleaner—kids and adults, alike,” shared Ramer. “Patient satisfaction is very high, and they request more samples at subsequent visits.” Nato had similar experiences and said, “Most of the people who used OAP Cleaner in my practice stated that they loved the fresh scent. I concur. It has a very good fresh scent, and patients like it.” Dr. Hamby noted, “We continue to use OAP because we have not found a better product on the market, and our patients have given great feedback about their experiences with it.”

"The ease of use, great smell, and thorough job it does cleaning appliances make OAP Cleaner our go-to cleaner for aligners and retainers."
-J. Brian Hamby, DMD
Greenville, SC

Overall Satisfaction

Because of OAP Cleaner’s ease of use, quick results, cleaning effectiveness, and patient satisfaction, dental practitioners are pleased to recommend OAP Cleaner to their patients and their colleagues. “The ease of use, great smell, and thorough job it does cleaning appliances make OAP Cleaner our go-to cleaner for aligners and retainers,” concluded Dr. Hamby. Dental practitioners can purchase OAP Cleaner directly from the manufacturer at a significant discount.

Takeaways

• Anti-bacterial, antiviral, & anti-fungal solution cleans all removable dental appliances
• Gel or foam formula is easy to dispense with pump
• Disinfects oral appliances in 60 seconds or less with gentle scrubbing motion
• Removes germs, bacteria, plaque, stains, and odors
• Leaves pleasant mint scent