  Why use a Hydrim? How does a Hydrim clean as well as it does? What is the procedure for using the Hydrim? What cycles are available? Where do you load the detergent? How do I know what accessories to use with a Hydrim? How do I know if I need to order the tabletop Hydrim (C51W-D01) or the larger Hydrim L (L110W-D01)? What do I need to know about the installation prior to the unit arriving at the office? Is the Hydrim good for all instruments and handpieces? Does a Hydrim completely take the place of an ultrasonic unit? Can you mix loads of loose instruments and cassettes? Does the Hydrim dry instruments after the wash and rinse cycles? What other chemicals will benefit the cleaning efficiency of the Hydrim? There are two detergents available for both Hydrim units. What is the difference and which one should be used? Should dissimilar instrument loads be separated prior to washing and sterilization? Is all stainless steel alike? Is aluminum used in manufacturing instruments? When is carbide material used? What is Passivating? Will surgical grade stainless rust? Can rusting be transferred from one instrument to another? How can you tell if an instrument has been re-tipped? What affects the life of an instrument? What is the life expectancy of instruments? Can instruments become spotted or stained? What causes spotting? What causes brown spots to occur? What causes purplish-black stains? What causes pitting? Can detergents cause pitting? What causes instruments to turn a matte gray color? Q: Why use a Hydrim? A: A Hydrim is used as a replacement for an ultrasonic unit to clean instruments prior to sterilization. There is no need to pre-soak items other than the standard removal of set cement and composites from instruments. Instruments will have 99.9% of all protein material removed after the proper cycle in the Hydrim. back to top Q: How does a Hydrim clean as well as it does? A: SciCan's Hydrim has been designed to clean instruments that are placed in the machine, either loose in the basket or in instrument cassettes. Regardless of the configuration, the Hydrim detergent (.04% Hydrogen Peroxide in-use), does a complete job in removing organic debris from dental instrumentation. back to top Q: What is the procedure for using the Hydrim? A: After dirty instruments are brought into the sterilization area, no pre-soaking or scrubbing is required. As always, remove by hand any set cement or composite material from spatulas. Load the Hydrim with loose instruments or cassettes, close the door and select a cycle. The machine will clean and rinse the contents that will then be ready for sterilization. back to top Q: What cycles are available? A1: For the tabletop unit (C51W-D01), three cycles will take care of all dental offices. There is a "Rinse and Hold" cycle that runs for 8 minutes and allows the operator to rinse items prior to a full wash cycle with out the protein drying on them. The next cycle is a "Regular Wash" which runs for 19 minutes and includes a wash and a final rinse. The last cycle is a "Heavy Duty Wash" which lasts for 23 minutes and is used for hinged instruments and cassettes that are run through the machine.
A2: For the large Hydrim L (L110W-D01) the cycles are similar, but there is also a drying cycle. P0- Rinse and hold (8 minutes), P1- Regular wash and rinse (20 minutes), P2- Regular wash, rinse and dry (30 minutes), P3 - Heavy duty Wash and rinse (30 minutes), P4 - Heavy Duty Wash, rinse and dry (40 minutes).
back to top Q: Where do you load the detergent? A1: The cleaning solution for the Hydrim C 51W (CS-C51W) container is slid into the side of the unit whenever the low detergent lamp is lit on the front of the machine. Each bottle will last approximately 25 cycles. The operator will remove the empty bottle from the unit by disconnecting the "Quick-disconnect fitting" and attaching the tubing to a new detergent bottle. There is no refilling of the bottles. The operator simply throws away the empty bottle and replaces it with a new one. The detergent is a 2% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide, which is further diluted in the chamber. A2: The cleaning solution for the Hydrim L (CS-L110W) is loaded by opening the chemical door and inverting the box. Tear open the tab and pull out the connector and remove cap. Screw tightly onto the machine connector, close the chemical door and operate the unit. NOTE: There is no detergent shipped with the unit. Please make sure to order detergent with the unit! back to top Q: How do I know what accessories to use with a Hydrim? A: It depends on the needs of the office that will be using the machine. If the office does not use cassettes, make sure that enough baskets have been ordered to place loose instruments in a single layer with hinged instruments open. An office that uses cassettes exclusively should ensure that cassette racks are ordered to accommodate the loads. If an office processes both loose instruments and cassettes, make sure that both baskets and cassette racks are ordered. back to top Q: How do I know if I need to order the tabletop Hydrim (C51W-D01) or the larger Hydrim L (L110W-D01)? A: Deciding which unit to order depends on the size of the practice, the number of operators on site, the types of items being cleaned and sterilized and the space that is available to house the units. A one- to two-doctor practice with one hygienist will do fine in most cases with a tabletop Hydrim (C51W-D01). As the number of operators increases, it is best to graduate to the full size Hydrim L (L110W-D01). The tabletop Hydrim C51W can be installed on the counter or under the counter to save space. The Hydrim L is a floor standing unit.
back to top Q: What do I need to know about the installation prior to the unit arriving at the office? A: Both units have to be checked against the dimension specs for proper installation fit. Tabletop Hydrim C (C51W-D01) (H) 23.6 x (W) 18.75 x (D) 18.25 Hydrim L (L110W-D01) (H) 33.5 x (W) 23.75 x (D) 23.75 A water testing kit is supplied to test the quality of the water at the installation site. During installation, the built-in water softener is set according to the local water hardness. Both Hydrim units require a 220V electric connection with hot and cold water connections that consist of supplied "hose bib fittings" that are three feet in length. A drain much like a drain setup for a dishwasher is also required. A supplied three-foot corrugated drain tube is supplied with the units. back to top Q: Is the Hydrim good for all instruments and handpieces? A: As the marketplace sees an increasing diversity in instrumentation and materials, we have to be vigilant to make sure that the materials being cleaned are compatible with the Hydrim cleaning process. The Hydrim is never appropriate for high speed or low speed handpieces. Never use an ultrasonic unit to clean handpieces and for the same reason do not use a Hydrim. Just as you separate dissimilar metals prior to sterilization, you should do the same with instrument prep prior to the Hydrim. Carbon steel is not recommended for the Hydrim.
back to top Q: Does a Hydrim completely take the place of an ultrasonic unit? A: No. Most offices still have a use for a small ultrasonic unit for tartar and stain removal and like procedures. A Hydrim will do the majority of the instrument processing. Carbon steel instruments and carbide burrs should still be processed with an ultrasonic unit, or as directed by the manufacturer. back to top Q: Can you mix loads of loose instruments and cassettes? A: Yes, you can mix loads. However, you should always use the Heavy-duty cycle when you are running mixed loads. back to top Q: Does the Hydrim dry instruments after the wash and rinse cycles? A1: The Tabletop Hydrim (C51W-D01) does not have an active dry cycle but drying can be accomplished by cracking the door open about one-inch (25 mm) for 15 minutes after the completion of a cycle. A2: The Hydrim L does offer dry cycles at the end of the Regular and the Heavy-duty wash and rinse cycles. back to top Q: What other chemicals will benefit the cleaning efficiency of the Hydrim? A: SciCan's Stat-Dri Plus (with corrosion inhibitors) is a rinse aid that is highly recommended for both sizes of Hydrim. With regular use, it will allow the instruments to dry without water spotting. back to top Q: There are two detergents available for both Hydrim units. What is the difference and which one should be used? A: SciCan has two detergents that are available. A pH neutral version is used for Hu-Friedy's new XTS composite instruments. The original 2% hydrogen peroxide detergent is compatible with stainless steel instruments. back to top Q: Should dissimilar instrument loads be separated prior to washing and sterilization? A: The washing or sterilization of stainless instruments together with plated instruments of dissimilar material should be avoided. Chipped or imperfectly plated carbon steel instruments will cause rust deposits on stainless steel instruments. Electrolytic action will carry carbon particles from the exposed metal on to the stainless steel. These particles promptly oxidize and the stainless steel instrument appears to have rusted. back to top Q: Is all stainless steel alike? A: There are two types of stainless commonly used:
back to top Q: Is aluminum used in manufacturing instruments? A: Yes, mostly in handles or composite instruments. It is difficult to manage. Chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning equipment can damage the anodized surface finish. back to top Q: When is carbide material used? A: Because of its hardness, carbide inserts make excellent cutting surfaces for scissors, knives and wire cutting pliers. Carbide can develop corrosion problems if the bonding of the carbide is not processed properly. back to top Q: What is Passivating? A: Non-rusting property of stainless steel is attributed to a very thin, invisible oxide film (chromium oxide) that covers the surface. This occurs naturally. Foreign matter left over from machining processes or heat-treating must be removed to impact full stainless properties. The cleaning of the surface of all foreign matter is referred to as "Passivation" back to top Q: Will surgical grade stainless rust? A: Highly unlikely. What appears as rust is actually residual organic matters, foreign material from machining processes or mineral deposits, which have been baked on the surface. These stains can be removed with a pencil eraser. back to top Q: Can rusting be transferred from one instrument to another? A: Yes, chipped or imperfectly plated carbon steel instruments will cause rust deposits on stainless steel instruments. back to top Q: How can you tell if an instrument has been re-tipped? A: In the United States, companies are required by law to stamp "re-tipped" on the instrument. back to top Q: What affects the life of an instrument? A: Original quality of instrument Processing care of the instrument Type of instrument and frequency of use back to top Q: What is the life expectancy of instruments? A: On average:
back to top Q: Can instruments become spotted or stained? A: Yes, even the finest stainless steel instruments can become spotted very quickly. back to top Q: What causes spotting? A: Slow evaporation of water condensation on the instruments can cause light or dark spots. back to top Q: What causes brown spots to occur? A: A dull brown or blue stain usually is a build-up of oxidation on the surface of the instrument. It is the formation of chromic oxide, a very thin hard layer that forms naturally on the surface of stainless steel to prevent atmospheric corrosion. back to top Q: What causes purplish-black stains? A: This may be the result of the instrument being in contact with ammonia. All cleaning materials must be thoroughly rinsed off the instrument. back to top Q: What causes pitting? A: When instruments are exposed to saline solutions, potassium chloride, iodine, blood and other compounds, pitting will occur. Instruments should be thoroughly rinsed after exposure to these compounds. back to top Q: Can detergents cause pitting? A: Yes. Pitting can be traced to detergents with pH levels above 9. Instruments must be rinsed after cleaning. Pitted instruments should be replaced, as they are susceptible to further corrosion. back to top Q: What causes instruments to turn a matte gray color? A: They have come in contact with other instruments that have not been cleaned thoroughly and are contaminated with cement remover. back to top  |
