Ensuring the Continuation of Excellence Eschmann trial the new LittleSister Autoclave

Having seen some momentous advancements in the world of technology, the dental industry has witnessed many significant changes in the past decade. From clinical procedures to practice management and decontamination protocols, new equipment has been introduced and developed to enhance and streamline every aspect of the profession.

As a result, daily processes within the dental practice have become more accurate, more effective and much more efficient, enabling professionals to deliver the highest standard of patient care and service ever seen, while also encouraging heightened practice profitability. 

The relationship between modern equipment manufacturers and the profession has had a huge influence over the quality and aptness of this technology. In order to produce machinery that meets the ever-changing demands of the dental industry, modern equipment manufacturers constantly engage with the profession to identify exactly what is required, and how it is required to function.

Such feedback from those in practice enables manufacturers to create and refine their products according to exact specifications, ensuring the final product is as high quality and as suitable for the modern profession as possible.

Executive Director if the BDIA (formerly the BDTA) Tony Reed comments,

“Effective R & D involving the end user is an extremely important part of product development and these relationships and partnerships play a vital role in the creation of innovative, quality products. By working closely with the dental team, manufacturers are able to tailor their products to provide cost-effective equipment that meets the needs of both the profession and the patient.”

For this reason, some manufacturers test prototypes of their new equipment in realistic environments before going into mass production, as Eschmann did recently when trailing the brand new LittleSister SES 3000B autoclave in dental facilities across the UK.

Jayne Younghusband, Practice Manager from Victoria Dental Practice in Darlington, was one of many involved in the 12 week trial. The good service she received from Eschmann in the past contributed to her taking part in the trial. “Having worked with Eschmann nearly two years’ ago to replace our entire decontamination room, we already had experience of the high level of service we could expect throughout the trial,” she says. “The LittleSister itself looked fantastic and was of a convenient size to allow easy placement within decontamination room. We did have a couple of issues with the machine, which was exactly why Eschmann wanted to trial the product in practice in the first place, but all minor concerns were quickly overcome. As such, we would definitely work with the team from Eschmann again in the future!”

In some cases, manufacturers like Eschmann who supply equipment directly to the profession are also able to provide new opportunities for practices to try equipment they previously haven’t been able to. From Kirkgate Dental in North Yorkshire, Jennifer Pearce says: “We were delighted to take part in Eschmann’s product trial as we had not previously had such equipment in the practice, and this provided an opportunity to see how easy the autoclave was to use, and which instruments it would be best suited to for our practice.” With professionals using such technology for the first time, Eschmann were able to ensure that the autoclave was easy to use and that the instructions were simple to follow, ensuring further clarity for all their customers. 

Claire Hinchcliffe, Senior Dental Nurse and Decontamination Lead at Dental Directions in Sheffield, confirmed this. “The new autoclave was absolutely brilliant – a clear upgrade from the previous model we had been using, well-made and easy-to-use. The instruction manual was also very clear and concise, and an engineer even talked us through it prior to installation.

“With an 8-surgery practice we have a high demand for efficient decontamination equipment, and this trial was an effective way of testing this machine in action,” adds Claire. “Any minor concerns or problems we came across were resolved quickly by the team at Eschmann, and we were so impressed by the LittleSister that we are already considering purchasing one for ourselves when it goes on general sale!”

The University of Portsmouth Dental Academy also trialled the LittleSister as part of the brand new decontamination training room supplied and installed by Eschmann. Of the LittleSister, the University Decontamination Technician Michael Tyler says: “This was a great piece of equipment for the students to have access to, as it helped them understand the stages of successful decontamination better. Other than a minor issue which had already been identified and addressed by others trialling the LittleSister, we had no problems at all, and we are very much looking forward to using the new autoclave with the students going forward.”

As a student-focused facility, it was particularly important for the University team to have access to fast and comprehensive technical support. “We are always happy to work with Eschmann in all areas of decontamination as they are always highly receptive, and genuinely interested in the feedback we provide, which is want you want from an equipment manufacturer. I believe we will therefore continue working with them in the future.”

Following such feedback from those who trialled the autoclave, Eschmann was able to make all the necessary final tweaks before mass production, ensuring the equipment will be as capable and efficient as possible. By involving the profession in the early stages of equipment manufacture, companies such as Eschmann ensure the best possible service and equipment is delivered every time.

For more information please visit www.eschmann.co.uk, or call 01903 753322