Dental scrubs that can help cut costs, work more efficiently

Dental Products Report talked to Dr. Chad Wagener, DDS,  about the differences TiScrubs have made in his practice, and why making a good first impression doesn't have to cost more.

Dr. Chad Wagener has been practicing in Ankeny, Iowa, for 24 years. He has a solo practice with six employees and is a member of the ADA, Iowa Dental Association, ALD, AACD, and is currently President of the Iowa Academy of General Dentistry, Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, and member of the Catapult Group.

While always on the lookout for products and technology that make their jobs easier, Dr. Wagener and his staff recently made a switch in the dental scrubs they wear. Here they share their story of TiScrubs dental scrubs.  

Get DPR's latest e-book: How floss alternatives can help patients with preventative care

First impressions/Dr. Wagener

“Patients have several first impressions when they come to our office, from the initial phone call, to the office décor and the professionalism of the team,” he said. “I have a very busy general dentistry office that is modern and high tech. When it came to finding new scrubs for my team and I, we really did not want the traditional cotton or blended lab coats or smocks. I was looking for something more modern looking.  

“While at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, TiScrubs caught my eye.  These scrubs were different from anything else I had seen. They were lightweight, breathable and antimicrobial. My team was excited about them, and our patients constantly comment on how professional we look. These scrubs are very comfortable to wear, keep me cool even during my toughest procedures and are holding up great!”

They also are cutting costs for the practice.

“Previously we were sending our scrubs out to a local dry cleaner to have them laundered and pressed.  Now we have installed a washer and dryer and do our own laundry.  This has saved us hundreds of dollars every month with minimal additional time from the team. The scrubs come out of the dryer looking great, and we have not noticed any fading like we used to with our cotton blended scrubs. And if the scrubs were not enough, some of the profits go towards helping TeamSmile, a non-profit organization using professional sports to draw disadvantaged kids into their first dentistry experience. TiScrubs are a win-win, and they make any team look and feel their best and make a great first impression!”

Related reading: DEXIS and TeamSmile bring dental care to underserved children

A dental assistant’s view

“After 19 years working in the dental field, it has been refreshing to find scrubs that are functional, fashionable, comfortable and easy to maintain all in one product,” said Victoria Carr, Expanded Function Dental Assistant at the practice.

“Because our attire is consistent day in and day out, it is important to our team to feel good about what we wear. Our new TiScrubs do just that!  From a very busy vendor floor at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, our first impression of the TiScrubs product and representatives stood out among all the rest and has proven itself over the last year. They have been wonderful to work with!”   

The TiScrubs story

Dr. Bill Busch, Kansas City dentist and creator of TiScrubs, was so inspired by a case featured on NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams where a Maryland boy died as the result of an untreated abscessed tooth that he decided to reach out to members of the dental community to find a way to make a difference.

Understanding the universal appeal of professional sports, Dr. Busch’s vision was to facilitate partnerships between dental professionals, pro sports teams and dental organizations with the goal of providing life-changing dental care and instruction to children who otherwise would not have access to it. He thought: What better way to get kids excited about taking care of their teeth than to tie dental health care in with professional sports?

In 2007, the first TeamSmile outreach program was hosted by Dr. Busch’s hometown NFL football team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs organization promoted a fun, one-day event where dental volunteers provided outreach services to Kansas City area children.

TeamSmile quickly expanded around the U.S. with the help of other NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and Pro Golf teams but Dr. Busch needed to find a way to sustain TeamSmile and keep his philanthropic dream alive.

In 2010, he came up with an idea. He had always provided the dentists, hygienists and other healthcare professionals volunteering at TeamSmile events with standard, cotton medical scrubs embroidered with the sponsoring pro sports team’s logo; however, he never thought the traditional scrubs fit the image of the high-tech dental events and the pro-athletes that were a part of them. So Dr. Busch decided to create a line of athletic-looking, performance scrubs for the volunteers to wear. These scrubs, which he called TiScrubs, were so popular with TeamSmile volunteers that Dr. Busch decided to offer them to everyone in the healthcare community and use the proceeds to help fund TeamSmile.

Today, TiScrubs and TeamSmile help improve the smiles of thousands of kids around the U.S. each year