FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Contact us if you can’t find the answers to your questions here!
ASSEMBLY
If you find the cheek retractor assembly starts to stick or gets tight after sterilization simply add lubricant (vaseline/lip balm/soap) to the joint to get it working smoothly.
- Check that the ‘L’ and ‘R’ labeled lip cradles are engaged to the patient’s left and right sides respectively. The channels that link the suction tubing of the tongue crib should face superiorly (upwards).
- The tongue crib is oriented correctly if the ‘UP ’ arrow (located on the anterior tip of the crib) is pointed superiorly (upwards). The ‘UP ’ arrow should face you when inserted in the patient’s mouth.
INSERTION
Generally this is due to the position of arms. Pose the arms such that the suction port rests on the retromolar pad, and the arms are clear of any occlusal contact.
You also may wish to check the antero-posterior length of the arms as the suction port and must clear the terminal teeth posteriorly.
First, check the position of the arms and make sure they are on the retromolar pad behind the terminal teeth in the arch. Check if the sublingual suction is clear of any mucosa. Lastly, check if the Y-adapter connection at the low-volume suction port is tight and secure.
If the tongue crib collapses simply pre-bend the wire in the tongue crib out laterally. This adjustment can be made either outside or inside the mouth.
Firstly try the Tongue Crib only in the patients mouth until the patient feels comfortable. If this does not work, give the patient the internal member of the appliance to try it in their mouth for themselves until they feel comfortable. Try to wet the appliance prior to insertion to see if this eliminates the gagging reflex.
XerosGuard comes equipped with (patented) poseable arms that may be adapted to most mouth sizes. Simply bend the arms up, down, in or out to match your patient’s intra-oral anatomy.
The anteroposterior position of the tongue crib may also be adjusted by sliding the arms anteriorly or posteriorly. It is recommended you start with the tongue crib in the most anterior position and simply slide the arms posteriorly after insertion.
A common insertion problem is observed when the posterior suction port does not sit on the retromolar pad. In order to resolve this, pre-bend the poseable arms inferiorly (downward) such that the suction ports sit on the retromolar pad.
REMOVAL
Once you have finished your procedure remove the XerosGuard in one piece. Disconnect the Y-adapter from the suction.
Disassemble the tongue crib with integrated suction from the cheek retractor and dispose of it. Retain and disassemble the cheek retractor and sterilize it with your other equipment. You may wish to disassemble this piece for space considerations in your autoclave.
WHO SHOULD USE THE XG APPLIANCE?
The XerosGuard appliance was designed by Dentists for Dentists. With that in mind it can be used by dentists, dental specialists, dental assistants, and hygienists.
Any procedures where the operator requires retraction of the soft tissues, maximum access and an unobstructed vision to the desired working field.
All dental procedures which require retraction of the soft tissues, a dry working field with an unobstructed view including attachments, braces, lingual wires, sealants, fillings, crowns, implants, and scaling and planing.
STERILIZATION
- Here at XerosGuard, the health and safety of the patients and operators are of the highest priority.
- To eliminate any chance of cross-contamination, any portion of the XG appliance in direct contact with the patient’s fluids or foreign debris which cannot be mechanically cleaned or directly steam sterilized (such as the tubing running throughout the XG appliance) are single patient use
- The cheek retractors and bite blocks can be safely sterilized via stream autoclave following mechanical debridement in a machine wash.
- The basic principle of steam sterilization/autoclave is to expose each item to direct steam contact at the required temperature and pressure for the specified time. Thus, there are four parameters of steam sterilization: steam, pressure, temperature, and time. Pressure serves to obtain the high temperatures necessary to quickly kill microorganisms.
- Specific temperatures must be obtained to ensure the microbicidal activity.
- The two common steam-sterilizing temperatures are 121°C (250°F) and 132°C (270°F) These temperatures must be maintained for a minimal time to kill microorganisms.
- Recognized minimum exposure periods for sterilization of wrapped healthcare supplies are 30 minutes at 121°C (250°F) in a gravity displacement sterilizer or 4 minutes at 132°C (270°F) in a pre-vacuum sterilizer.
- At constant temperatures, sterilization times vary depending on the type of item (e.g., metal versus rubber, plastic, items with lumens), whether the item is wrapped or unwrapped, and the sterilizer type.
Recommendation For Cheek Retractor Is Steam Autoclave (6 Critical Factors)
- Time (15 to 30 min)
- Temperature (121-132°C)
- Moisture
- Direct Steam Contact
- Air removal
- Drying
Sterilization Protocols for Tongue Crib with Integrated Suction
- Recommendation is to discard after single use
PROTECTING THE OPERATOR AND THE PATIENT
Yes, the compact design of the XG appliance will allow the operator to use auxiliary high volume evacuation to assist the suction of the XG appliance to reduce aerosols and splatter during AGP (aerosol generating procedures).
Here at Xerosguard, the health and safety of the patients and operators are of the highest priority. To eliminate any chance of cross contamination, any portion of the XG appliance in direct contact with patient’s fluids or foreign debris which cannot be mechanically cleaned or directly steam sterilized such as the tubing running throughout the XG appliance is disposed of.
PRODUCTIVITY, EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS
XerosGuard was designed by clinicians with the intention of creating a one step full/dual arch isolation appliance while maintaining the ability of the patient to fully function, unlike any other isolation appliance on the market today. This unique function of the XerosGuard appliance will lead to up to 50% reduction in chair time for particular procedures where full mouth isolation and maximum intercuspation are desired. Greater efficiency translates to faster appointments, more appointments, and single assistant/clinician procedures. The reduction of stress for the operator also leads to a more productive day. The XerosGuard appliance will also directly reduce the cost of auxiliaries such as dry angles, gauze, cotton rolls, and saliva ejectors.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
With the environment in mind, the XerosGuard appliance was designed in two parts, one of which is fully autoclavable. The cheek retractor portion of the XerosGuard appliance is made of a high heat autoclavable material to be reused. We also believe the XerosGuard appliance will replace the need for dry angles, gauze, cotton rolls and saliva ejectors in many procedures done today with inherently end up in landfills and do not degrade with time.
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