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RDH Buyer’s Guide Scalers and Curettes

Sept. 1, 2005
Manufacturers provide information about dental hygiene products.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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