Pilot

The light-weight, compact Piezo Pilot comes with an omni-directional foot pedal, a quick-disconnect water line, and an in-line, replaceable filter. The softlit dome and removable/autoclavable handpiece sleeves come in 6 contemporary colors. The unit has a magnetic handpiece holder that can be positioned on either side of the unit or any magnetic surface.

A group of 8 dentists and hygienists, with years of experience ranging from 6 to 36, participated in this Dental Product Shopper evaluation of the Piezo Pilot. They rated such features as tip selection, calculus removal, handpiece design, and unit portability.

Tip Selection and Calculus Removal

The Piezo Pilot comes with a choice of either 4 ultrasonic hygiene tips or 4 ultrasonic endodontic tips, and it is compatible with tips from a variety of major manufacturers, including the complete line of Vista’s piezo tips. When asked about the variety of the tip selection for use with the unit, 1 evaluator rated it as excellent, 5 rated it as very good, 1 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair.

Versatility of use related to procedures and power was rated as excellent by 1 evaluator, as very good by 5, and as good to fair by 2. One hygienist noted that “the ‘wrench’ used to help remove the tip stopped working after several uses.” Another hygienist “would like to see more options on the scaling tips offered.” The same evaluator said, “A universal is always good, but at times the need to remove calculus along the anterior anatomy requires a separate scaler. In addition to a universal tip, one that is very thin is also welcome to scale along the anatomy of all teeth, including the posterior.” Another hygienist, in practice for 29 years, “found stain removal extremely easy,” and went on to add, “I liked the various tips… they were versatile.”

Effectiveness of calculus removal with the Pilot was rated as excellent by 2 evaluators, as very good by 3, as good by 2, and as fair by 1.

Ease of Use

Ease of use was rated as excellent by 2 evaluators, as very good by 4, as good by 1, and as fair by 1. Two evaluators— a hygienist and a dentist –indicated that they had some difficulty controlling the water flow. Two dentists reported issues with the tubing connection, noting some instability with the water connection.

One of the hygienist evaluators described ease of use of the Piezo Pilot as “good, once it’s put together” and another hygienist, who works in both general and periodontal practices, “found the Pilot to be extremely easy to use,” noting that it “took a while to become comfortable holding the handle,” which she described as somewhat larger than another she has used.

Design and Portability

The manufacturer describes the Piezo Pilot as a lightweight powerhouse, noting that it allows the clinician to work both quickly and effortlessly. The evaluators rated and commented on several features related to the design of the unit, including handpiece design and the unit’s size and portability.

Handpiece design/comfort was rated as excellent by 3 evaluators and as very good by 5. When asked about the unit’s size and portability between operatories, 3 evaluators rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 1 rated it as good. One of the hygienist evaluators, in practice for 29 years, described the Piezo Pilot as “light-weight and neatlooking.” Another hygienist said, “The unit size is great for portability.”

Overall Satisfaction

When asked about their overall satisfaction with the Piezo Pilot, 1 evaluator rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, 2 rated it as good, and 1 rated it as fair. One Pennsylvania hygienist, in practice for 18 years, was “very pleased with the light weight of the handpiece”