Dental patient bibs are used primarily to keep the patient dry during dental procedures while providing a solid barrier against bacteria. Although dentists have historically been the main customers for dental bibs, there are many other industries where they can be — and are — used.
Are Patient Bibs the Same as Dental Bibs?
Patient bibs are the same as dental bibs. Even when marketed as patient bibs, you can be sure they are the same product. To check, look for multi-ply bibs with both a tissue side and a polyethylene side, which makes them both absorbent and water-resistant.
What Size Do Dental Bibs Come In?
The most common size for dental bibs is 13 x 18 inches (approx. 33 x 45 cm). Other sizes exist, but this is the standard. It provides ample coverage when worn as a bib during a dental procedure, and more than enough surface area when used by tattoo artists and nail salons to hold instruments.
What Are Dental Bibs Made Of?
Dental bibs are made of multi-layer tissue and polyethylene. You will see dental or patient bibs marketed by ply — 2-ply or 3-ply are the most common. Ply refers to the number of tissue layers in the bib: more layers mean the material can absorb more liquid. Some prefer 3-ply tissue, but most professionals choose 2-ply for their patient bib needs.
The other component of a dental bib is the polyethylene side, which makes the bib waterproof. To identify it, look for the shinier side — this is the side that touches the patient when used as a traditional bib. When a bib is used to hold instruments, the polyethylene side should face the surface: the tissue side absorbs moisture from the instruments, while the polyethylene side acts as a barrier that keeps the surface or tray dry.
What Makes a Good Dental Bib?
A good dental bib should be highly absorbent and provide solid liquid protection. The tissue should absorb, while the polyethylene ensures liquid does not escape the bib. It is also important that the bib does not tear easily. Low-quality dental bibs use cheaper raw materials, including lower-grade tissue and polyethylene, resulting in bibs that tear more easily and offer less absorbency and liquid protection. Saving a little may be tempting, but higher-quality dental bibs pay off many times over in the long run.
Why Use Disposable Dental Bibs?
Dental bibs are a must for any dental practice. They keep the patient’s clothes clean and protected in the chair, and they also reduce the risk of cross-contamination between patients. Many dentists may ask themselves, “Why use disposable dental bibs?” It is a question worth answering, because switching from reusable to disposable bibs brings many benefits.
One of the biggest benefits of disposable dental bibs is that they are more hygienic. They can be thrown away after use, so there is no need to wash or store them between patients, and they eliminate a wider risk of cross-contamination by keeping every other surface in your practice clean.
Another advantage is affordability. Reusable bibs may seem like a good idea, but the extra cost of keeping them clean — together with patients’ concerns about infection — makes them hardly worth the effort. With disposable dental bibs there is no need to worry about cross-contamination, since they never need washing or storing between patients.
Disposable dental bibs also have uses outside the dental practice. Tattoo studios and nail salons can use them to keep their workplaces hygienic at an economical cost.