ProAngle Ergo Contra-Angle Disposable Prophy Angle

ProAngle Ergo Contra-Angle Disposable Prophy Angle

Pac-Dent International, Inc

The ProAngle Ergo contra-angle disposable prophy angle employs a patented inner structure design and beveled gearing to ensure consistently smooth prophy procedures.

Pac-Dent’s ProAngle Ergo offers clinicians a disposable contra prophy angle with an ergonomic shell that provides user-comfort by keeping the wrist in a neutral position. The new torque cup option features a cup with internal blade geometry that draws in the prophy paste as it spins to minimize splatter, while raised diamonds on the outside of the cup to efficiently clean interproximal and molar areas.

Eleven hygienists conducted this Dental Product Shopper evaluation, rating a variety of features of the ProAngle Ergo like access, visibility, and ergonomics.

Ease of Use

Built on the mechanical structure of the ProAngle Plus, ProAngle Ergo features the same patented design, with precisely engineered beveled gears whose pitch surfaces are mounted securely when engaged, effectively reducing vibrations, noise, and heat build-up.

When asked to rate the product’s ease of use—including the smoothness of the cup, and how well the angle delivers torque without binding—5 evaluators rated it as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as fair. One evaluator’s favorite feature was the “flexibility [and] pliability of angle,” while adding that the “soft cup contained the paste effectively.” The evaluators also commented on their visibility inside the oral cavity while using ProAngle Ergo, with 3 rating it excellent, 5 rating it very good, and 3 rating it good. Time savings and overall efficiency were rated as excellent by 1, very good by 4, and good-to-fair by 2 evaluators (2 evaluators declined to comment on this feature).

Operation

The newly developed ProAngle Torque Cup effectively reduces splattering with its turbine-like internal blade geometry and features outer cross-spiral ridges for improved interproximal cleaning.

When rating ease of access (interproximal, subgingival, and lingual) 5 called it excellent, 2 called it very good, and 2 called it good-to-fair. The ridges on the outside of the cup was the feature most commonly cited as a favorite among evaluators. A hygienist who gave the product an overall rating of very good said they liked the “outer diamonds for interproximal cleaning,” adding, “[It’s] nice to see someone added an exterior feature to a prophy cup.” Evaluators rated how well ProAngle Ergo minimizes splatter, earning an excellent from 3 evaluators, very good from 5, good from 2, and fair from 1. Regarding how well the product minimizes noise and vibration, 5 evaluators called it excellent, 4, called it very good, and 2 called it fair. One evaluator complained the angle was “noisy.”

Ergonomics

The ProAngle Ergo’s shell is ergonomically designed, and its obtusely tilted head allows hand and wrist to operate with less effort compared to traditional disposable prophy angles, leading to less daily micro-traumas on hand and arm muscles.

The evaluators were asked to test ProAngler Ergo for its ergonomic features, including the product’s nonslip grip that offers maximum maneuverability. Five evaluators called it excellent, 4 called it very good, and 2 called it fair.

They also tested how well the product minimizes finger, arm, and wrist fatigue at end of day, and 3 evaluators rated it excellent, 4 rated it very good, 2 rated it good, and 2 declined to comment. One evaluator mentioned that there was “no splatter at all, and [it was] extremely comfortable to hold and use.”

Overall Satisfaction

Nine of the 11 evaluators said they would definitely or probably recommend ProAngle Ergo to colleagues, and 8 said they would definitely or probably purchase it in the future. Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent by 1, very good by 8, and fair by 2.

A Maryland-based evaluator with 11 years of experience simply said ProAngle Ergo was “overall a great product.” Another said, “Four hygienists in our office used it for several weeks—all reported favorable results.”