FAQ

Are the bibs approved by the ODQ (Ordre des Dentistes du Québec)?

The ODQ does not give seals of approval for new products on the market. As long as the item follows disinfection and asepsis guidelines, it is acceptable for use in dental offices. Since the bibs are considered non-critical items, cleaning and disinfecting them with an intermediate-level disinfectant approved by Health Canada is sufficient.

Furthermore, the Green Program of the ACDQ (Association des chirurgiens dentiste du Québec) recommends reusable dental bibs as a preferable alternative to typical disposable paper bibs. 

Reference sources:

Mise à jour des lignes directrices - Contrôle des infections et retraitement des dispositifs médicaux  (p. 39; in French only) - Document available on http://www.odq.qc.ca

Management of residual materials in dental offices in accordance with the principle of the 4Rs - Document available on https://www.acdq.qc.ca

What is special about your medical-grade fabric?

To make our bibs, we use medical-grade fabric because it has been tested by a third party to assess its penetration resistance to bloodborne pathogens. It has passed ASTM F1670-B and ASTM F1671 testing and meets the highest standard of protection. This Level-4 barrier fabric is widely used to make medical gowns.

 

How do patients feel about reusable dental bibs?

As a dentist myself, I have been using these bibs in my dental office for many years with thousands of patients. I have NEVER had any negative comments from a patient. Most do not seem to notice the change and the ones who do tend to congratulate my staff for being environmentally conscious. The design of the bibs is clean and professional; it blends right into the dental office environment. 

 

What do we do with the bibs once they become too worn or damaged to be used in our dental office? 

TerraCycle offers a recycling program that gives used fabrics a new life. Synthetic fibre textiles, such as polyester, are pelletised and made into new plastic products. You may purchase a fabrics recycling box yourself, or if you’d prefer, send back your used bibs and I will gladly recycle them for you.

 

How to clean the reusable dental bibs? 

Disinfect the bib between each patient. If visibly soiled, first wipe it down twice or use soap and water, then let dry before disinfecting. Do NOT machine wash. (These instructions exclude the two-layer model)

 

How long do your reusable dental bibs last? 

Durability depends on use, but in general, one year can pass without major deterioration of the fabric. After that, the bib may start to show some visible defects, but it is still very functional and of acceptable appearance for a second year of use.

We recommend avoiding contact with non-diluted bleach (e.g. during root canal treatments) and silver diamine.