Brand product or low-cost alternative for suction system disinfection? - Practices are spoilt for choice
Orotol from Dürr Dental has been an integral part of hygiene in dental practices for 60 years. It was the world's first and is still the leading product in the field of suction system disinfection, developed by the inventor of dental suction. However, it is no longer the only disinfectant for suction systems on the market. Users are now spoilt for choice. In economically challenging times, it is easy to be tempted to reach for the cheapest product. In this interview, Julian Dangel, Product Manager for Hygiene at Dürr Dental, explains why it is still worthwhile - also financially - to opt for the branded product.
Mr Dangel, hand on heart: Are cheaper products really worse than Orotol plus?
J. Dangel: Just for fun, I passed the question on to the AI. It has a clear opinion and is in favour of our product. (laughs) But to answer the question seriously: even if many products now perform quite well, there are still some points that convince users of Orotol plus and are not fulfilled by other suppliers or products. In addition to a particularly good cleaning effect, these include, for example, the pleasant fragrance, ease of use and, above all, the absence of foam during application. The last point in particular plays an important role and is a unique selling point of Orotol plus. Other products that foam can cause serious damage to the suction system, which can be very expensive in the worst case. That's why, in my opinion, users who simply go for the cheapest product are saving money in the wrong place.
So what should you look out for when comparing different products, apart from the price?
J. Dangel: Number one: Is the product really foam-free? As just described, this is very important and can be easily tested when preparing the working solution, for example by pouring a small amount into a sealed container and shaking. Number two: What is the spectrum of efficacy of the product and how has it been tested? Here, too, there are sometimes differences between suppliers. Thirdly, if you want to save costs, you should check the dosage, frequency of use and active ingredient content of the products in addition to the price per litre. For example: Orotol plus only requires a 2% solution. This means that for every 2.5 litre bottle of Orotol plus (our best-selling unit), one user can prepare 125 litres of working solution. If a 5% solution of another product is required instead and the product may even have to be used twice a day instead of just once, you will not save any money even if the purchase price is lower. If you take a look at the active ingredient content of the products, you will also recognise the reason why Orotol plus performs very well even at a lower dosage and when used once a day: the active ingredient content of the branded product is significantly higher.
Am I completely free to choose the disinfectant for the suction system?
J. Dangel: The manufacturer's recommendations naturally also play an important role in the choice of product. Because what many people don't realise is that damage caused by the use of non-approved products can lead to the manufacturer's warranty claims being excluded. And that can end up being expensive. Not only because the entire practice operation comes to a standstill if the suction system fails, but also because the costs for the repair due to improper use must be borne entirely by the practice. We therefore recommend that you always consult the instructions for use. For Dürr Dental suction systems, the products we have developed and manufactured ourselves have always been tested and approved. Orotol plus, Orotol plus pH 7 or Orotol ultra should therefore always be used for disinfection or MD 555 cleaner or MD 555 cleaner organic for cleaning. The majority of unit manufacturers also recommend Dürr Dental products for suction unit disinfection and cleaning.
In addition to Orotol plus, you mentioned the additional special cleaner MD 555 cleaner. What is the difference to cleaning with Orotol and how often should the product be used?
J. Dangel: That is correct. Although Orotol not only disinfects but also cleans the system, the special cleaner MD 555 cleaner should also be used. This does not mean that Orotol has a low cleaning power. However, the two products have completely different tasks and remove different residues from the suction system: while Orotol plus is a mildly alkaline product, MD 555 cleaner is an acidic cleaner. The combination of both is ideal for maintaining the suction system. While Orotol plus removes organic deposits (e.g. blood and saliva) and disinfects the system, the special cleaner MD 555 cleaner removes limescale deposits and prophylaxis powder. A single product for everything would be nice, but is not feasible due to the different substances in the system. In order to make it as easy as possible for users to integrate the use of MD 555 cleaner into their daily practice routine, we have designed the application recommendation to be flexible. For practices that have a traditional lunch break, we recommend using the product twice a week during the break. Practices without a lunch break can also apply MD 555 cleaner daily before the start of treatment and shorten the application time (from 30 - 120 minutes to 5 - 15 minutes). Because we know that time is at a premium in everyday practice life. And time is money, to get back to the original topic.
