Cross Evaluation and Comparison for Disposable

CROSS
COMPARISON
Cross Evaluation and
Comparison for Disposable
Napkin Chains
by Contemporary
Product
Solutions
ProBarrier
2012 SELECT
Bib-Eze
Practicon
Contemporary Product
Solutions provides an expertise evaluation of clinical and laboratory dental
products and equipment
from the total team
perspective.
Our mission is to provide
the dental profession
with clinically relevant
information to all areas
of the dental practice.
Product review will provide unbiased, current,
evidence-based
information on equipment,
materials,
protocols
of treatment, and long
term performance. Each
evaluation includes a
step-by-step “Tech Spec”
of each product, clinical
overview and summary,
technique video and an
overall rating.
40
2012 SELECT
2012 SELECT
Fifteen evaluation teams conducted a blind evaluation and comparison of 3
disposable bibs. Each disposable bib holder (Practicon bib holders by Practicon
Dental, Bib-Eze by DUX Dental, and the Probarrier Disposa Chain™ by Certrol
International) was used for 4 weeks. Each evaluator was given specific guidelines to compare the blinded products under the following conditions: quality,
storage, and ease of use, price, quantity and patient satisfaction.
ProBarrier Disposa-chain by Certol International
Paper bib chain with adhesive strips on each end to attach to a patient bib.
Each bib holder is non-latex and made of soft cotton fiber that is non-latex.
The “Claim to Fame” is that each box had contains 15% more strips than the
competition competing brand. Each chain measures ¾ inches x 16 ½ long. Each
box contains 300 chains. $14.39 per box.
Practicon
Disposable bib chain made of paper. Each chain has an adhesive backing that
is easy to peel and stick to each bib. Manufacturers directions say to remove
bib tear paper chain. Each box contains 100 chains. $12.50 per box.
Bib-Eze by Dux Dental, Disposable Paper Bib Holder
Disposable bib chain made of elasticized fiber that stretches to the size of
the patient’s neck. The Bib-Eze has self-adhesive ends that adhere to any
disposable bib. Disposable and easy to remove by tearing. Each box contains
250 disposable bib chains. $11.90 per box.
Before the evaluation, we wanted to gain some insight from the CPS team’s
perspective of how disposable bibs could be used in their practice.
| CONTEMPORARY PRODUCT SOLUTIONS | VOL. 8 • APRIL 2012
CROSS
COMPARISON
t “ I feel disposable bib holders are an integral part
to infection control in the dental office and yes
we are using them.”
t “I’ve always used a reusable bib holder and just
wipe it as I’m wiping my unit. It is also an effort
to minimize office waste.”
t “Once you know what is on those bib chains after
the UNC study, you just have to feel convicted
when using a metal bib-chain.”
Figure 1. Bib-eze is easier to attach and stay attached
to patient bibs.
Figure 2. Difference in adhesive.
Here are the conclusions:
t “We have started using them because the banana
clip holders get rusty and nasty.”
t “Difficult to adjust the length, and difficult to
remove from bib and get off the patient.”
t “We like the disposability and ease of removal.
We do not currently use them because we have
the alligator clips that hold the bibs in place really
well.”
t “I think they are great. The reason we haven’t
used them is we are creatures of habit.”
t “Don’t use them because they look cheaper and
I’m happy with the plastic coated neck chain.”
t “Great idea. Hygienic and Donations to Breast
Cancer Research.”
After thoroughly reviewing and comparing the
evaluated product results, the Bib-Eze scored
the highest rating when compared to Practicon
and ProBarrier. When asked to rate the ease of
attachment and adhesiveness, 12 out of the 15
evaluators rated Bib-Eze the highest. 12 out of the
15 evaluators gave the ProBarrier and Practicon
disposable bibs an equal but lower rating. When
rating the quality of each disposable bib chain, the
evaluation team commented that 1 out of 5 (20%)
of the ProBarrier Disposable tabs came off the bib
or detached during treatment and the Practicon
bibs appeared “like shredded paper”. When the
participants opinions on the amount of product
offered in each container was requested, the
ProBarrier was rated highest with over 300 in each
box, however the Practicon and the Bib-Eze were
rated just as good with their amounts. Although
some commented the Bib-Eze from Dux Dental
storage box was longer in size, it rated higher than
the Practicon and the ProBarrier. All participants
felt the bag that contained the Practicon bibs, was
harder to remove than all three bibs and came
out at once when trying to remove just one. When
interviewing patients about their thoughts on all
three bibs, the Bib-Eze from Dux presented better
quality and comfort than the other bibs used. The
CPS Team was questioned if price matters when
purchasing a disposable bib, all answered yes.3 of
the evaluators quoted they want competitive prices,
but would pay a little more for a better product.
Some of the differences quoted
t “Bib-Eze was a little stronger.”
t “All were easy to dispense and remove from
patient. Bib-Eze is easier to get the sticker
off the adhesive.”
APRIL 2012 • VOL. 8 | CONTEMPORARY PRODUCT SOLUTIONS |
41
CROSS
COMPARISON
t “I did not like the other two (ProBarrier and the
Practicon) either to short or to hard to remove
paper to place holder.”
The Product
Figure 3. Evaluation Teams choice in storage.
t “Ease of use with Bib-Eze.”
t “Pro barrier too weak and packaging was totally
unorganized.”
by
t “Bib-Eze was stretchy, Practicon was small and
didn’t get in women’s hair (pulling) as much,
I also liked the different lengths. Bib-Eze was
the tackiest.”
t “Bib-Eze overall was the best, the Practicon
types were to short and the ProBarriers were
unreliable in the stick ability.”
t “The ProBarrier and Bib-Eze are similar in
quality but the packaging makes the difference
for me. The Practicon product seems cheap,
too thin, breaks above the adhesive and taking
it out of the package is a mess.”
t “Quality and patient’s perception is the most
important in our practice. The ProBarrier and
the Practicon did not represent
our practice
Take Away
quality and philosophy of what is best for the
t “Text here.”
patient.”
The
Evaluation
Team
t CPS
“ProBarrier
has
a 10 box t
minimum
order and I
“Text here.”
combine
product
review with that.”
am not
comfortable
t “Text here.”
for the whole team consisting of dentists, assisFollowing
the CPS
Board of Evaluator’s first cross
tants,
hygienists,
patient
comparison
product
review, they were asked what
coordinators and the
observations
they
gathered
from this analysis and
dental laboratory review
their
responses were:
this
product.
t “Different
of comparing products.”
CPS
producedways
the following
and - the bib holders are very
t “Forcomments
question above
reviews
following
similar. We don’t its
like disposable bibs.”
evaluation
t “Products are always very similar.”
t “Similar products but better quality with BibEze”
t “There are differences in types of holders and
some variables between these three types was
visible.”
t “The importance of infection control through
the chain bib holder”
42
Figure 4. ProBarrier adhesive that would come off.
t ReinforcedConsiderations
my belief that for any product/
technology to work and be implemented, it must
first be easily
and easy to use. The
t accessible
“Text here.”
packaging was a huge factor in which product I
t Bib-Eze
“Text here.”
preferred. The
product is neatly packaged
and easily removed from box. The Practicon was
a mess and the ProBarrier was better but still
just a jumbled up mess in the box and several
pieces come out at once.”
When asked to rate each product with a Diamond
rating 1-5 5 being the highest the ratings were as
followed:
ProBarrier
2012 SELECT
The Traypurol is all we are ordering
for ourBib-Eze
washer and ultrasonic
2012 SELECT
solution. One tablet for both is my
answerPracticon
ordering ease.2012 SELECT
~Dr. Daniel Etheridge
| CONTEMPORARY PRODUCT SOLUTIONS | VOL. 8 • APRIL 2012