When the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced most dental practices to shut down in the spring of 2020, Jennifer Clark, RDH, quickly began searching for safer methods of practicing dental hygiene to use when offices began to reopen.
Clark, who has worked in dental hygiene for 3 decades, is a proud team member of Magann Family Dentistry in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The practice—like most in the country—closed last March because of the pandemic. She then began to research methods of reducing aerosol spreads during common dental procedures.
“As information came out regarding the need for dental practices to control aerosols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I began researching high-volume evacuation (HVE) options online. This is how I discovered the ErgoFinger,” she says.
Simple and Effective
Clark was intrigued by the disposable finger-attached HVE Tip that is both ergonomic and designed to reduce aerosols.
“My first product kit arrived in June and I’ve been using it every day since,” Clark says. “The best feature…is the lightweight hose. It poses no draw on the wrist when wearing the product and allows you to move freely around the patient in an ergonomic-friendly manner. It also has an adjustable nozzle, which extends, retracts, and rotates 360 degrees for increased intraoral access. I also love that the HVE valve is removable and autoclavable—so there’s no cross-contamination.”
ErgoFinger®
ErgoFinger is a disposable finger-attached HVE Tip that permits ergonomic working postures to avoid upraised arms, bending, twisting of the neck, and other stress-producing positions. Designed to reduce the physical stress a dental professional may experience when working without an assistant, the wearable tool also improves aerosol and splatter control during procedures. The ErgoFinger HVE Tip features a nozzle bore size of 11 mm that reduces aerosol contamination from the oral cavity and eliminates fluid and debris when a clinician is performing instrumentation procedures without an assistant. Each package contains 50 pieces of finger-cup, sizes S-M or L-XL with attached nozzle, and 50 pieces of tube.
ErgoFinger
She says adding this product to the regular workflow in her practice allows her to resume ultrasonic scaling in a much safer environment. She is confident in the performance of ErgoFinger for significant aerosol reduction (proven to be more than 90%) and has received many positive comments from patients.
“They notice that the overspray is greatly reduced from ultrasonic scaling now with the ErgoFinger being used, compared [with] prior visits just using the saliva ejector,” Clark says. “There have been patients [who] would not allow the ultrasonic scaler before but agreed to it after I demonstrated it with the ErgoFinger.”
Another benefit Clark likes is the additional tip, the ErgoAirTip, designed to be used with air polishing devices. You simply remove the ErgoFinger tip and attach the ErgoAirTip.
“Aerosol reduction with either tip is largely [because of] the bore hole size. The ErgoFinger opening is 11 mm and the ErgoAirTip is 14 mm,” Clark explains. “Both exceed US standards for HVE, which is 8 mm.”
Ergonomic and safety benefits during a pandemic make this product one Clark is thrilled to add to her daily routine at Magann Family Dentistry. Each package includes different finger sizes.
“I’d give this product 10 stars if I could. It has rapidly become the most valuable instrument I use. To all my dental colleagues, if you are still searching for an HVE option, try this. If you have something already in your practice, try this. Trust me, once you do, you will not be sorry,” Clark says.
Also, she adds, the ErgoFinger is simple to install without requiring special equipment or training. The wearable tool attaches to your existing HVE via a 2-in-1 adapter and no technician is needed
