An evaluation of Ivory ReLeaf from Kulzer

The Contemporary Product Solutions (CPS) evaluation team, consisting of dentists, assistants and hygienists, conducted this evaluation. CPS solicited the individual perspectives of 30 dental team members after employing the Ivory^® ReLeaf™ suction device from Kulzer during multiple dental procedures. In total, about 71 percent of respondents were dental assistants, about 7 percent were dentists, about 12 percent were hygienists, and the rest were managers, assistants, or program directors of dental organizations.

CPS produced the following comments and reviews following its evaluation:

• “Very easy to place and comfortable for the patient.”

• “Allows us to focus on the procedure without distractions of saliva.”

• “As an EFDA, placing composite and working by yourself can be challenging. The ReLeaf takes away the worry of contamination.”

Product comparison

More than 76 percent of those surveyed stated that they use a saliva ejector as the primary suction system or moisture control device in their dental practice, with 40 percent utilizing the Isolite system and 20 percent using Blue Boa^®. When asked what they consider the most important qualities of a suction system, the evaluators rated patient comfort, patient experience and overall quality most highly over attributes like price and practitioner experience.

After using Ivory ReLeaf primarily throughout their restorative procedures, sealants, polishing and ultrasonic scaling, 43 percent of evaluators rated Ivory ReLeaf better than their current suction product and 20 percent rated it much better. Taken together, a majority of those surveyed agreed that Ivory ReLeaf was a step up compared to their practice’s current device.

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Ease of use

Once they had an opportunity to assess the suction benefits and improved clinical outcomes conferred by Ivory ReLeaf, 66 percent said they appreciated the ease of setup. Additionally, 63 percent enjoyed the hands-free attribute, while 53 percent were impressed by the degree of patient comfort and control.

Of those surveyed, further positive experiences included 46 percent commending both the suction and workflow efficiency Ivory ReLeaf enables. Upon being asked if there was anything they would change, 73 percent of those surveyed said they found nothing to improve upon with Ivory ReLeaf.

Dental team satisfaction

Ivory ReLeaf also provides greater efficiency by freeing up the staff’s capacity to assist with or complete aspects of the procedure. A majority of evaluators reported time savings, with 36 percent observing one- to five-minute improvements and 43 percent seeing a significant six- to 10-minute gain in time. Of those surveyed, further positive experiences included 46 percent commending both the suction and workflow efficiency Ivory ReLeaf enables.

One hygienist commented, “I order ReLeaf because I practice biofilm decontamination with aqueous powder streaming, often known as air polishing. Trying to hold the HVE while visualizing the area I was treating and keeping the patient comfortable is challenging. We know that clinicians need to take steps to protect themselves, patients and the dental environment from airborne contaminants that can lead to disease transmission.”

Upon being asked if there was anything they would change, 73 percent of those surveyed said they found nothing to improve upon with Ivory ReLeaf.

One evaluator said they would like something to hold the tongue out of the way if possible on the next design, and the “U” design recommendations for cleaning would be great for the packaging to come with a pipe cleaner.

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One evaluator noted that the primary factor influencing their decision to keep using Ivory ReLeaf daily was the superior lingual retraction, though others felt the suction strength could be slightly higher.

Instructions for setup

1. Fold the two leaf halves together by sliding the protruding dovetail clip into the opposing groove at the leaf tip. Squeeze the two halves of the leaf together slightly to ensure the middle lock tab is inserted into the hole in the center of the leaf.

2. Attach the leaf to the “U” end of the hose with the lower suction hole facing away from the hose. Ensure the leaf is securely attached.

3. Attach the free end of the quick-disconnect hose to the quick-disconnect adapter of the HVE attachment hose. Insert the coupler at the other end of the HVE attachment securely into an open HVE port. It may be necessary to wet the O-ring inside the unused port for the adapter to slide in easily. It also may be necessary to replace the O-ring if you find the coupler coming loose.

4. Place Ivory ReLeaf into the patient’s oral cavity with the leaf positioned between the teeth and cheek. When transitioning between patients, remove the quick-disconnect hose, wipe down the short eight-inch hose with a disinfectant wipe, reattach the hose to the adapter, and then attach a new leaf.