When I was a young lad at 18 years old, I started my first real job—an auto mechanic at a Ford dealership in New Bedford, Massachusetts. 

On the morning of my first day, the service manager told me, “You’ll be working along side Harry for two weeks.  He’s our most experienced mechanic”.  I looked at Harry to make some kind of connection, but I got nothing back from him—not even a glimpse.  To put it mildly, Harry seemed very unhappy with my presence.    

I arrived on my first day with very few tools of my own.  So begrudgingly, I had to use Harry’s.  Harry didn’t say much, but his vibe was loud and clear—he wanted me nowhere near him or his tools.  Every second I spent with Harry was very painful.  I’m not sure if Harry hated me in particular, or he just hated working with human beings in general.  I’m guessing both.  Harry was, to quote the great comedian Norm Macdonald, “a real jerk”.   

For those readers who don’t know, it’s common practice for auto mechanics to buy their own tools.  Their employers are not responsible for providing tools.     

My time as an auto mechanic was short, but the idea of buying one’s own “tools” really stuck with me.  I like the idea of professionals buying their own “tools” for three basic reasons:

• People will take better care of their own “tools”.
• People will only buy “tools” they really need. 
• People will get the “tools” they individually like.

Fast forward to 2007 (early in my dental hygiene career).  I was temping at an office in Boston on a Saturday morning.  Out of the corner of my eye and around my loupes, I saw the endodontist walking past my operatory.  She was pulling a wheeled cart behind her.  She had her own “tools!”    

Fast forward to 2008.  I was now a full time employee.  My employer was one of those large dental corporations (I won’t mention names).  Everything they purchased was pretty much the same across 100+ offices, including the ultrasonic scalers and the hand instruments.  The stuff was decent, but not great.  I really wanted to work with better stuff, so within six months, I decided to just buy my own “tools”.  

My shopping spree started with hand instruments, but soon followed with the purchase of my own ultrasonic scaler.  A $4,000+ scaler was out of the question.  I just wanted a solid performing, mid-priced scaler with very few bells and whistles.  I have no issue with bells, but I’m no fan of whistles. 

After much research, I finally decided on the Parkell Integra Scaler.

Here’s what I liked about it at the time of purchase:

Price

• I paid about $1,100 at the time.  Today’s price is about $1,600. 

Internal water source (two tanks)

• I could irrigate with something other than water.  
• It made the scaler easily portable (unplug and go), which I needed.

Simple design

• Easy to clean.  
• Fewer things to break.

Here’s what I liked about it after a decade or so (I now own two):

Performance

• Overall performance has been very good (especially when combined with the Parkell Burnett Power Tip).

Excellent Customer Service

• Each scaler had to be repaired once.  The first repair was under warrantee, so no charge.  The second repair cost me a few hundred bucks, but they basically replaced all the internals which made the scaler like new.
• The repair request process on my end was quick and easy in both cases. 

If you happen to be in the market for a solid, mid-priced ultrasonic scaler, I highly recommended the Parkell Integra Scaler.  Ten years later, I’m still in love with those two workhorses.  And best of all, I no longer have to borrow anyone else’s “tools”.  

Mark Frias, RDH