Steven Cumper offers a handy guide to dental nursing scrubs.

Doctors and nurses aren’t the only healthcare workers who wear scrubs. Dentists and dental nurses wear them, too! Did you recently get hired as a dental nurse? If so, you probably need to invest in some scrubs for your work uniform.

Not sure where to start? This ultimate guide to dental nursing scrubs tells you everything you need to know, from choosing the most suitable fabric to maintaining your nursing scrubs to extend their lifespan.

Importance of choosing the right dental nursing scrubs

Don’t just grab the first couple of pairs of scrubs you see in the store or online. You’re going to be wearing this clothing every day — you deserve to have scrubs that are comfortable and make your job easier, not more challenging than it already is.

Take your time when choosing nursing scrubs to ensure you find a good fit, comfortable materials, and functional styles that you actually want to wear to work.

Choosing the right fabric and key features to look for in dental nursing scrubs

When shopping for medical scrubs, start by considering the fabric the garments are made from. Here are some of the most frequently used materials (they may be used independently or as part of a blend):

  • Cotton. Cotton is one of the most common fabrics used to make dental nursing scrubs because it’s breathable and soft.
  • Polyester. Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from a chemical reaction between petroleum, coal, water, and air. It is wrinkle-resistant, durable, stretch-resistant, and shrink-resistant.
  • Rayon. Rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric made from cellulose fibres extracted from wood pulp. It can mimic the look and feel of many other fabrics, including cotton and linen, but it’s less durable than many other materials.
  • Spandex. Spandex is lightweight, durable, and stretchy. It’s stretch-resistant and shrink-resistant as well and is often combined with other fabrics to add more flexibility.

In addition to choosing the right blend of fabrics, it’s also important to consider other features when picking out a pair of scrubs. The following are some popular features that can make your scrubs more comfortable and functional:

  • Pockets. From pens to glasses to badges, you carry a lot of different items with you as a dental nurse, and pockets make it much easier to ensure you don’t forget anything.
  • Side vents. Side vents allow for increased flexibility and provide a more comfortable fit for scrub tops.
  • Snaps/ zips. Snaps and zippers make it easier for you to take your scrubs on and off, allowing you to change more quickly.
  • Loops. Loops can also come in handy when you need a place to clip your badge, keys, etc.

Different types of dental nursing scrubs

Dental nurses and other healthcare workers, for that matter, used to have just a few scrub styles to choose from. Today, though, it’s easy to mix and match tops and bottoms to create a uniform that’s uniquely yours.

The following are some popular dental nursing scrub styles to consider:

Tops

  • Modern fit (more closely fitted, shorter sleeve, shorter torso)
  • Classic fit (looser fit, slightly longer sleeve, longer torso)
  • Short sleeve
  • Long sleeve

Bottoms

  • Jogger (banded at the bottom)
  • Tapered leg (narrow at the bottom)
  • Straight leg (straight from hip to hem)
  • Boot leg (slightly wider at the bottom)
  • Flared leg (widest at the bottom)

Tips for proper maintenance and care of dental nursing scrubs

Once you’ve invested in some pairs of scrubs to wear to work, you’ll want to keep them in good condition for as long as possible, right? Your scrubs go through a lot of wear and tear day to day, but there are still steps you can take to help them last, including these:

Wash before the first wear

Washing your scrubs before you wear them can help to set the colour in and prevent it from bleeding. Throw them in the washing machine on a cold setting with a half cup of white vinegar.

Pretreat stains

Stains are unavoidable when you work in the healthcare world, and dental nursing is no exception. If you come home with stains, pre-treat them with stain remover (no matter how tired you are after a long shift) before throwing them in the laundry.

Follow fabric instructions

Different fabrics need to be treated, well, differently. For example, cotton should be washed in cold water, whereas a polyester/cotton blend should be washed in warm water.

Turn scrubs inside out

Turning your scrubs inside out before you wash them can help to prevent fading. It can also protect the fabric and help it last longer.

Dry on high heat

Drying your scrubs on high heat helps to kill any lingering bacteria or germs that might be stuck on them. Don’t forget, though, that high-heat drying can also cause shrinkage.

The future of dental nursing scrubs: innovations and developments

Dental nursing scrubs have come a long way over the last several years, and they’ll continue becoming more stylish and functional in the future. The following are some of the latest innovations to show up in scrub manufacturing:

  • Antimicrobial fabrics: Some modern fabrics are infused with silver to help them fight off bacteria and prevent the amount of germs and pathogens carried home at the end of your shift.
  • Sustainable fabrics: Because popular fabrics like cotton and polyester are not very sustainable, some manufacturers are making scrubs from other materials like bamboo.
  • Recycled fabrics: In an effort to be more eco-friendly, some manufacturers also use fabrics made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles.
  • Extended sizing: Modern scrubs come in numerous different styles, and many manufacturers have also created comprehensive sizing options, including sizes geared toward extra-tall and petite dental nurses to ensure they feel comfortable throughout their entire shift.

Choosing dental nursing scrubs doesn’t have to be tedious or stressful, especially with so many new and innovative styles out there. Keep the tips and suggestions shared in this guide in mind, and you’ll have no trouble finding scrubs that look and feel great to you.

For more information visit www.scrubsiq.com.au

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