Product Evaluation

PRODUCT EVALUATION UPDATE

DPS revisits the evaluation of PDT’s Wingrove Titanium Implant Instruments, checking in with current users and reporting on longterm durability.

PARADISE DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES

Wingrove Titanium Implant Instruments Evaluation

Ergonomically designed, durable titanium instruments for safe and efficient implant Maintenance

As an increasing number of patients turn to implants as their treatment of choice, hygienists are, in turn, seeing an uptick in implant patients who need routine cleanings and other hygiene care. But just like you wouldn’t clean your car’s exterior with the steel wool pad that you use to scrub dishes, dental instruments designed for natural teeth should not necessarily be used on implants—and could, in fact, cause damage to the implant surface.

To provide dental professionals with quality instruments to treat their implant patients, Paradise Dental Technologies (PDT) introduced Wingrove Titanium Implant Instruments. A set of scalers designed specifically for safe and efficient implant maintenance, the R900 Wingrove Go-To Set earned a DPS Best Product rating back in 2016. DPS recently discovered that most of the hygienists who evaluated the instruments are still using the Wingrove set as their go-to implant scalers.

One of those hygienists, Susan Sander, shared, “I am still using PDT’s Wingrove titanium implant scalers, and my employer has purchased them as our exclusive implant treatment choice. The instruments are very durable, and the titanium is holding up well.” She explained, “There’s really no comparison with other implant scalers. The Wingrove instruments are superior in every way for patient comfort, preventing damage to implants, and ease of use.”

All-Inclusive Set

The all-inclusive R900 Wingrove Go-To Set includes 3 implant instruments—the Wingrove B5 6 Ti R661 for posterior and wide-based crowns, the Wingrove L3-4 Ti R680 for posterior and narrow-based bulbous crowns, and the Wingrove N128-L5 mini Ti R693 for anterior implants. The kit also includes a probe and ceramic sharpening stone, with all components stored in a specially designed, autoclavable storage cassette. “This set stands out among the other implant instruments because everything you need is included in the set to properly care for implants,” noted Terrie Moncourtois, RDH, and hygienist Maureen Curran said, “Having the instruments contained in their own cassette made for easy sterilization and saved time.”

Ergonomics & Efficiency

The ergonomically designed instruments feature lightweight handles with a comfortable grip and have extra thin tips to reach difficult areas around implants. “This set is my go-to for patients with 2 or more implants, and I love it for full implant cases,” said hygienist Brenda Buergi. “The instruments are lightweight and easy to use, and having all the different instruments in this set makes it extremely easy to reach every aspect of an implant. I feel confident in cleaning implants properly with this set,” she added. Curran shared, “The Wingrove implant instruments are lightweight with thin sharp blades. The resin handles with the little nubs fit perfectly in my hand, allowing for a light grasp to hold the instrument while being free from worry that it will slip during working strokes.” Sander agreed and said, “Because the instruments are lightweight and have wide handles, they are easy to hold and maneuver.”

Titanium instruments are more rigid than plastic instruments, which helps Curran “efficiently remove more calculus with less working strokes, which saves time throughout the appointment.” When working on implants, Sander said that “resin scalers and plastic tipped ultrasonic inserts have little impact on plaque and calculus.” However, with these instruments, she is “more confident with cleaning hard-to-access implants, with reduced concern about scratching implants.”  Moncourtois pointed out the longterm benefits of proper implant cleaning. “The design and instrument choices effectively remove debris and leave a professionally cleaned implant. It is comforting to the patient knowing that we take extra care to properly clean their implant with the best available instruments.”

Sharpness & Durability

With sharp, workable edges, Buergi said her patients receive “the best implant care now that I can easily access the site with a sharp instrument that’s comfortable and light to use.” Curran called the instruments better than other implant instruments due to the thinness of the blade and the various shaped blades for different regions. I don’t have to use a ‘one-size-fits-all’ type instrument that slows me down,” she said.

With blades made of solid medicalgrade titanium, PDT’s Wingrove implant instruments are extremely durable and will not scratch implants. Calling the instruments very durable, Curran reported, “The titanium has held up well in the 4 years that I have had them, and the sharpening is definitely not as frequent as a regular scaler. I may have to sharpen every few months.” Buergi agreed and said, “The durability is great. I still have the set from 2016, and they are still working like on day one.” She said she uses and processes the scalers about every 2 weeks and rarely needs to sharpen them. When sharpening is needed, though, she said it’s easy to do.

"My employer has purchased these instruments as our exclusive implant treatment choice."
-Susan Sander, RDH
Eugene, OR

Overall Satisfaction

After 4 years, Moncourtois concluded, “The Wingrove titanium implant set is holding up well. They are by far the best implant instruments I have used in my 25 years of being a hygienist.” Curran said her day is more efficient and productive when she uses the Wingrove instruments, and Sander shared, “I am grateful for these scalers and pleased our office has incorporated them into our daily routine.”

Takeaways

•Effectively removes debris and leaves a professionally cleaned implant
•Thin design and angle of the blade allow easy access to implants
•Large handle and light weight improve ergonomics
•Scalers remove calculus more efficiently than plastic instruments
•Autoclavable storage cassette holds 3 instruments, probe, & sharpening stone