Criteria for disposable brush tips for use in dentistry.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to document criteria considered appropriate for disposable brush tips used to apply agents in liquid and gel form and to carry out an assessment of examples of brush tips supplied by manufacturers of dental materials.


METHODS
Three brush tips were selected at random from sixteen packs of dental materials and one dedicated pack of brushes, and examined under 4X magnification. The brush tips were assessed with regard to criteria such as cost, flexibility, shape, size, etc to determine, in particular, whether any correlation existed between brush tip characteristics and the type (i.e., fluid or gel) and thickness of agent to be applied.


RESULTS
When assessed with regard to the ideal criteria, no correlation was apparent between brush tip features and the type and thickness of agent to be applied.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that brush tip effectiveness may be found to be dependent upon the correct choice of tip shape, length, and size for each particular function, and that operators and manufacturers alike should choose the brush tip considered most suitable for any given application. Before application of a given material, clinicians should select the brush tip to be used to ensure that the appropriate amount of material will be applied in the intended thickness.
McLean
E
E
Unit of Oral Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
Burke
T
T
Wilson
N
N
D000287:Administration, Topical; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D018583:Pliability; D013499:Surface Properties; D014783:Viscosity
D003764:Dental Materials; D005782:Gels; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions