Since the pandemic, Dryshield who was acquired by Solmetex April 11, 2022 and is "the dental industry's leading provider of amalgam separators and other waste compliance products", has made misleading claims that create a false sense of safety for unsuspecting dentists like myself. We were led to believe that using Dryshield's continuous high-volume evacuation could significantly reduce aerosols, thereby protecting ourselves, our staff, and our patients from COVID-19.
The truth is, Dryshield is NOT a high-volume device. If you haven't already read my report exposing the truth about Dryshield's system, you can find it here:
In a time when information for dentists was scarce, Dryshield positioned themselves as experts in aerosol reduction. In this post from April 21, 2020, you'll see how they insidiously presented themselves as a key component of a multi-layered approach to minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Here in this post from April 25, 2020, Dryshield goes another step further, claiming they can provide "continuous high-volume suction to control and reduce aerosols." They even cite articles to support their claim, despite being a low-volume device not capable of high-volume suction.
They display an HVE valve in the image but never mention it—neither in this post nor in any others for over six years. Why? Because "HVE" wasn’t a buzzword that drove sales for them until the pandemic.
Before I proceed, I want to emphasize that I have no intention of calling out or shaming the dentists who share their testimonials for Dryshield. I, too, was caught up in the misinformation, genuinely believing that the Dryshield system would serve as our shield of protection. I shared this belief with my staff and patients, like many of these dentists, unaware of the misconceptions that would soon come to light.
We are not to blame; we are all victims of Dryshield's misleading advertising and deceptive product claims.
With that in mind, I share this post and video from April 13, 2020, where Dryshield first makes the claim their device can manage aerosols and minimize risk for your staff and patients.
Dryshield's Misleading Advertising
After uncovering the truth about the Low-Volume Dryshield Adapter, I revisited the DryShield Facebook page to reflect on posts that once misled me into believing that adding Dryshield would protect my practice from COVID-19. It was a gut-wrenching experience as I scrolled through post after post, dating back to April 2020, where Dryshield falsely claimed to be a high-volume, aerosol-reducing device. These misleading assertions were clearly aimed at boosting sales, exploiting the fears and uncertainties of the dental community, myself included.
I will share a few screenshots and videos below, directly sourced from their Facebook page and current Solmetex website, in case they decide to remove them. However, I strongly encourage you to visit these platforms yourself to see the information firsthand.
Let’s start from the beginning: From the inception of the company until the onset of the pandemic, Dryshield never once claimed to be a High-Volume Evacuation device in their Facebook posts. In fact, this post from April 22, 2015 clearly identifies their product as a replacement for saliva ejectors (LVE). The image even features Saliva Ejector Tubes and LVE, reinforcing their true positioning.
Once again, on May 14, 2020, Dryshield presents themselves as an authority on infection control with their multi-layered approach. This time, they highlight "continuous high-volume suction"—another buzzword of the moment—as a key advantage of the Dryshield system for aerosol management.
In this post from May 26, 2020, Dryshield quotes a dentist referring to their system as the "first layer of protection." They further misleadingly assert that their system offers "high-volume continuous suction" and is effective for infection control. These claims are not only exaggerated but also intentionally deceptive, aiming to mislead practitioners about the true capabilities of their product.
Dentists following Dryshield's Facebook page during this time were bombarded with a flurry of videos touting Dryshield's supposed aerosol reduction capabilities using high-volume suction. Many of these videos featured testimonials from dentists—like this one posted on May 21, 2020—who incorporated Dryshield into their aerosol protection measures in anticipation of seeing patients.
On May 29, 2020, Dryshield shared a video featuring another dentist who explains to his patients that he has purchased a Dryshield HVE System "to capture aerosols before they leave the mouth." This claim both reflects a troubling misunderstanding of the product's true capabilities and highlights the deceptive messaging that has surrounded Dryshield's marketing.
In this video posted on June 4, 2020, a dentist expresses her misconception that adding Dryshield to her hygiene room is akin to adding a second HVE. Once again, Dryshield perpetuates the misleading claim that their product is an HVE device that will "reduce aerosols in your practice," further contributing to confusion and misinformation among dental professionals.
On July 3, 2020, Dryshield promoted an article from Dental Advisor in which the author asserts that the Dryshield mouthpiece provides high-volume suction. It’s crucial to highlight this, as both the author and the publication are well-respected within the dental community. Once again, we see more victims of Dryshield's misleading advertising and false product claims.
On July 6, 2020, Dryshield shared their installation instructional video—the same one they continue to use today—in a post claiming that dentists can replace their existing HVE with the Dryshield DS1 adapter, suggesting that the two are interchangeable. This misleading assertion further blurs the lines between the capabilities of their product and true high-volume evacuation devices.
On July 9, 2020, Dryshield once again falsely claimed that their mouthpiece provides continuous high-volume suction — a feat that is impossible with a low-volume adapter. This continued misinformation further misleads dental professionals about the true capabilities of their product.
On July 1, 2020, Dryshield highlighted a quote from a dentist who believes that they are prepared for patients to return because using Dryshield will reduce aerosols. At the time, readers of this post were misled into thinking that Dryshield was a solution that would facilitate the safe reopening of their practices.
On July 16, 2020, Dryshield shared a video from a respected dental podcast. In the video, the interviewer asks a dentist about her measures to protect patients from COVID-19. The dentist mentions that she is using Dryshield for aerosol reduction, expressing that she feels more comfortable having it in her practice. This portrayal not only perpetuates the misleading narrative about Dryshield's effectiveness in enhancing safety during the pandemic but also highlights the false sense of security felt by their customers.
On August 5, 2020, Dryshield urged their audience to vote for them in the Townie Choice Awards. They shared an advertisement and article from Dental Town, a highly respected magazine, in which they once again falsely claimed that the Dryshield system can minimize the risk of infection through continuous high-volume evacuation — something their low-volume system is not effectively able to provide.
On August 7, 2020, Dryshield shared a repost from another dental clinic that has been misinformed by their deceptive claims, believing that Dryshield will effectively reduce aerosols during procedures.
Dryshield quotes another dentist who asserts that they use their product to "keep everyone safe and protected." In their post from August 12, 2020, they once again repeat the false claim that their product offers protection against harmful aerosols.
In their post from August 19, 2020, Dryshield makes another deceptive claim that they can reduce aerosols before they reach the outside environment with "high-volume evacuation." They even provide a promo code, "PROTECT," for their "Protect Your Practice" campaign, further propagating the false belief that Dryshield will safeguard your practice.
In this post from September 15, 2020, Dryshield again fraudulently claims that their product offers "the protection of continuous high-volume suction."
Dryshield shares a video on September 22, 2020 of a misinformed Dentist on a podcast explaining how Dryshield can reduce aerosols by fictitious "96%":
On October 23, 2020, another misleading post emerged, perpetuating the false notion that Dryshield effectively reduces aerosols. It's also important to note the hashtags they use, such as #saferwithDryshield, #infectioncontrol, and #reduceaerosols, which have become staples in their post-COVID social media strategy. These terms not only misrepresent the product's capabilities but also exploit public health concerns to create an illusion of safety and efficacy.
In a repost from Dryshield dated November 13, 2020, the company continues to capitalize on the anxiety surrounding the pandemic, promoting the misleading belief that their product effectively reduces aerosols. This particular post highlights a dental practice that, despite the rising COVID cases, is convinced that using Dryshield will enhance patient safety.
On December 1, 2020, they shared another repost from a dental office that claims Dryshield reduces aerosols, thereby safeguarding both patients and staff. This perpetuation of misinformation by Dryshield fosters a false sense of security in dental practices.
On December 9, 2020, Dryshield concluded the year with a post touting self-generated "data" claiming that 87% of dentists believe their product is crucial for managing aerosols. At the time, this post undoubtedly reinforced beliefs in Dryshield as an aerosol reduction device.
In hindsight, this statistic suggests that most dentists, including myself, were misled into thinking that Dryshield effectively reduces aerosols. This is truly a clear illustration of how Dryshield's deceptive marketing shaped perceptions and influenced their customers' purchasing decisions.
As 2021 unfolds and dental practices resume normal operations, the urgency surrounding COVID-19 begins to wane, leading to a noticeable slowdown in Dryshield's posts about HVE and aerosol control. While these posts don't vanish entirely, their frequency slows.
However, the decreasing number of posts doesn’t lessen their seriousness. For instance, on February 18, 2021, Dryshield shared a video featuring a dentist who claims to be following protocols from the CDC, OSHA, ADA, and CDA by using Dryshield to mitigate aerosols. This assertion is deeply misleading, as none of these organizations endorse Dryshield in this capacity.
This post from April 29, 2021, is particularly troubling. In it, Dryshield shares the story of a hygienist who claims to "feel much safer" using their product. While it's evident that this hygienist prioritizes safety, it’s unfortunate that she has been misled by Dryshield’s deceptive messaging. This highlights the risk of misinformation in promoting a false sense of security in dental practices.
On January 25, 2022, Dryshield once again falsely claimed that they can protect dental practice staff by controlling aerosols at the source. At least this time, they acknowledge the importance of using HVE for additional protection. Perhaps by this point, many dentists had more time to educate themselves on aerosol reduction techniques, moving beyond initial panic. However, given the misconceptions Dryshield has already propagated, this statement serves as yet another example of their misleading marketing efforts that create a false sense of security.
On August 6, 2021, Dryshield made a post claiming to have "built-in HVE suction." This statement is misleading and inaccurate. Such claims can contribute to confusion and mistrust among dental professionals who rely on accurate information for infection control.
The misrepresentation of Dryshield's product capabilities persists in a post from June 2, 2022, where they again claim to provide hands-free continuous suction. While they are more cautious in their wording—avoiding terms like "high-volume" or explicitly stating that their suction reduces aerosols—they still employ hashtags like #aerosolprotection and #reducinginfections.
Any dentist who has heard during the COVID pandemic that hands-free continuous high-volume suction can reduce aerosols (and that includes most of us) would likely infer from this carefully crafted post that Dryshield offers such protection. This tactic underscores their ongoing efforts to create a misleading narrative about the effectiveness of their product.
Examining Dryshield's About section on their Facebook page reveals that they still inaccurately label themselves as a high-suction evacuator. This claim continues to mislead dental professionals about the true capabilities of their product.
In 2022, when the current parent company Solmetex acquired the Dryshield brand, they issued a press release to inform the dental community of the transition. However, this announcement included misleading statements, particularly the claim that Dryshield "combines the task of high-suction evacuator..." perpetually continuing the troubling confusion within the industry.
Furthermore, Solmetex describes itself as a "leading innovator in infection control products," positioning both the company and the Dryshield system as a "category leader" in "patient safety." Since the acquisition, they have unapologetically continued to promote this misleading information to the dental community.
Now, let’s take a look at the misleading advertising that remains active on Dryshield's website today.
You may have noticed a recurring theme in many of Dryshield's social media posts, particularly during the height of the pandemic, where they positioned themselves as experts in aerosol reduction and COVID-19 protection. The link dryshield.com/aerosols has been prominently featured and is still active, perpetuating the false notion that using Dryshield can help control and reduce aerosols, thereby lowering the risk of infection. Below is a screenshot from that web address.
Solmetex, the parent company of Dryshield, includes Dryshield as part of their comprehensive system of solutions, promoting it as a safety measure that offers isolation and aerosol control. This marketing strategy further blurs the lines of accuracy, as it implies that Dryshield plays a significant role in effectively managing aerosols and enhancing safety in dental practices.
Clicking "learn more" under "Isolation and Aerosol Control" directs you to a page filled with even more misleading information, including a continuation of the deceptive marketing claiming that Dryshield offers hands-free continuous suction to reduce aerosols.
If you download the "fact sheet" from the page mentioned above, you’ll receive a flyer containing even more deceptive claims. It further misleads dental professionals by falsely asserting that using Dryshield can prevent contamination from airborne pathogens by providing high-suction evacuation.
You might be wondering why I dedicated so much time to creating this page. Indeed, I spent several evenings and weekends compiling this information, often questioning my efforts. However, the more I researched, the more I recognized the critical need for consumers in the dental community to see the breadth and depth of misinformation disseminated by Dryshield. Understanding this issue as a whole is essential to grasp the seriousness of the situation and the significant risks posed by Dryshield's false claims of protection during the pandemic.
Or, you may feel a sense of disgust, just as I did, after seeing this evidence. With your new understanding of the Dryshield Isolation System, I hope you can appreciate why I felt it was crucial to express my thoughts. Companies like Dryshield should not be permitted to mislead consumers in this manner. By sharing this information, I aim to prevent others from making purchases based on a false sense of safety and to encourage all dental practitioners to approach advertising with greater scrutiny and discernment, especially that of Dryshield.