Manufacturers provide information about dental hygiene products.
ADMT
Noteworthy: On its Web site, ADMT claims to have started as a response to ergonomic issues in the dental profession. The products were developed after a three-year period of analyzing designs that would alleviate occupational injuries, resulting in the company’s “intervention” line of instruments. The ribbed silicone handle, for example, features varying thicknesses to eliminate switching back-and-forth to different sizes.
Styles/configurations: Barnhart, Columbia, Gracey, Jacquette, Langer, McCall, Rules, Younger-Good.
Weight range: The lightest is 14 grams
Handle width range: The average is 10 to 12 mm
Warranty: Guaranteed against manufacturer’s defects
Contact for more information: (888) 455-2368, www.admtechnology.com
American Eagle
Noteworthy: All of the company’s scalers and curettes are available with American Eagle’s patented XP Technology. American Eagle states that XP Technology incorporates a hardening process enabling the manufacturing of thinner tips, since less sharpening is required. The company’s EagleLite Sure Grip handles are designed to minimize occupational health risks.
Styles/configurations: Barnhart, Bates, Columbia, Goldman-Fox, Gracey, Jacquette, Langer, McCall, Miller, Younger-Good.
Weight range: 18 to 18.5 grams
Handle width range: Thickest is 9.5 mm
Estimated lifespan for “typical” dental hygiene usage: Four to six months
Replaceable tips: Yes
Warranty: Unconditional
Contact for more information: (800) 551-5172, www.am-eagle.com
Brasseler
Noteworthy: The company promotes the improved balance of its hollow steel handles as requiring less working pressure (resulting in less fatigue).
Styles/configurations: Barnhart, Columbia, Goldman-Fox, Gracey, Jacquette, Langer, Loma Linda, McCall, Miller, Ratcliff, Remington, Towner, Younger-Good.
Weight range: 16.4 grams to 26 grams
Handle width range: 6.35 mm to 11 mm
Estimated lifespan for “typical” dental hygiene usage: Estimated 900 to 1,200 patients, dependent on factors such as sharpening techniques and sterilization process.
Warranty: 90 days on workmanship
Contact information: (800) 841-4522, www.brasselerusa.com
Dentsply Professional
Noteworthy: The company produces the Flexichange line, which features ergonomic design for the handle. The company says the Flexichange handle, which comes in varying diameters, “has a medical-grade silicone that provides a positive comfortable grip with excellent tactile feedback.”
Styles/configurations: Columbia, Gracey, Williams Probe, S204, Hollenback.
Weight range: 24 grams
Handle width range: 8.4 mm to 11.2 mm
Estimated lifespan: One year for the handle, five years for the instrument
Replaceable tips: Yes
Warranty: 90 days from invoice date
Contact for more information: (800) 989-8826, www.professional.dentsply.com
Hu-Friedy
Noteworthy: Hu-Friedy instruments are developed from a high carbon and chromium steel alloy. The company’s Immunity Steel reportedly maintains a “precision edge after repeated use.” A variety of handle options address ergonomic concerns, which Hu-Friedy says complies with neurologists’ recommendations to alternate handle sizes. The handles are hollow and feature textured knurlings for “increased tactile sensitivity and a secure, confident grasp, even with wet gloves.” Finally, Hu-Friedy produces the Implacare instruments for protecting implant abutments.
Styles/configurations: Ball, Barnhart, Bates, Bunting, Cattoni, Columbia, DiamondTec, Goldman-Fox, Gracey (including “After Five” and “Mini-Five”), Jacquette, Kramer-Nevins, Langer, McCall, Miller, Morse, Nevi, Ratcliff, Remington, Towner, Vision Curvettes, Younger-Good.
Weight range: 18.4 grams to 20.8 grams
Handle width range: 6.35mm to 9.9mm
Estimated lifespan for “typical” dental hygiene usage: Nine to 12 months, or approximately 360 usages based on twice a day for nine months.
Replaceable tips: No
Warranty: Defects in material and workmanship is repaired or replaced at no charge
Contact for more information: (800) 483-7433, www.hu-friedy.com
Miltex
Noteworthy: The company’s GripLite line has a new addition, the GripLite S6 instruments. The name is derived from the fact that the hollow stainless steel handle is a #6 in size. The lightweight, large diameter handle was designed for dental hygienists, according to the company, and the instruments have an anti-roll feature to keep instruments stationary when placed on trays.
Styles/configurations: Ball, Barnhart, Columbia, Goldman-Fox, Gracey, Hirschfield, Jacquette, Langer, McCall, Orban, Orschenbein, Prichard, Remington, Schulger, Sugarman, Younger-Good.
Weight range: 22.4 grams
Handle width range: 10.033mm
Replaceable tips: No
Warranty: Guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship, excluding normal wear
Contact for more information: (866) 854-8300, www.miltex.com
Nordent
Noteworthy: The company is known for its DuraLite brand. Nordent uses a four-step heat treatment process that includes cryogenic tempering. The company believes strongly that hygienists should investigate claims of long-term sharpness by inquiring what the Rockwell hardness of an instrument is. Nordent says its tips are 54-56 degrees Rockwell “C.” In addition, the four handle designs (all stainless steel because of Nordent’s belief that steel transmits better tactile sensitivity than other materials) allow for changes in grasp.
Styles/configurations: Barnhart, Bates, Catroni, Columbia, Goldman-Fox, Gracey (including modified shank), Jacquette, Langer, McCall, Remington, Scalette, Towner, Younger-Good.
Weight range: 11.9 grams to 26 grams
Handle width range: 6.4mm to 16mm
Replaceable tips: No
Warranty: Guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship
Contact for more information: (800) 966-7336, www.nordent.com
Paradise Dental Technologies (PDT)
Noteworthy: The company’s Cruise line was founded by one of the developers of American Eagle’s EagleLite handles. The thermal resin handles were intentionally designed to be large and light. A proprietary heat/cryogenic technology is used in the manufacturing of PDT’s instruments.
Styles/configurations: Barnhart, Catroni, Columbia, Goldman-Fox, Gracey, Jacquette, Kramer-Nevins, Langer, McCall, Montana Jack, Towner, Younger-Good.
Weight range: 13 grams
Handle width range: 10mm
Replaceable tips: No
Warranty: Unconditional
Contact for more information: (800) 240-9895, www.pdtdental.com
Premier Dental
Noteworthy: The company’s product line includes the Big Easy instruments, which feature cushioned grips with a medical grade silicone material. The grips are 1/2-inch in diameter yet weigh only 16 grams. The Big Easy comes in a hollow stainless steel handle. In addition, Premier’s high density graphite curettes are suitable for treating teeth restored with implants.
Styles/configurations: Ball, Barnhart, Columbia, Goldman-Fox, Gracey, Jacquette, Langer, McCall, Younger-Good, as well as H6/H7, 204 series, V15/30, V15/33, and H5/33.
Weight range: 16 to 23 grams
Handle width range: 4.76 mm to 12.7 mm
Replaceable tips: No
Warranty: 100 percent against manufacturer’s defects
Contact for more information: (888) 670-6100, www.premusa.com
