The first and only zirconia cleaner indicated for both extraoral and intraoral use, KATANA Cleaner thoroughly cleans the surfaces of restorations in only 10 seconds
As a stickler for detail, Dr. Alfred dela Cruz is well aware that the ultimate success of any restoration depends upon careful attention to each and every step in the process. It’s for this reason that, always alert to the possibility of debonding, Dr. dela Cruz typically takes an extra 5 minutes to clean his zirconia crowns in an ultrasonic bath of distilled water after air abrasion. Hoping to save time, Dr. dela Cruz agreed to try a new product, Kuraray’s KATANA Cleaner, that eliminates the ultrasonic bath step without sacrificing bonding.
What sets this non-abrasive cleaner apart from other cleaning agents is not only its proprietary chemistry, which improves bonding by maximizing cleaning efficacy, but also its mild pH, which makes KATANA Cleaner the only such cleaner formulated for extraoral cleaning of prosthetic restorations and for intraoral cleaning of prepared tooth structure.
After using KATANA Cleaner for several weeks for this DPS review, Dr. dela Cruz is thrilled to have an extra 5 minutes to spare and said, “KATANA Cleaner prepares crowns for a solid cementation or bond,” and those crowns “bond a lot better after trial fit contamination.”
Ease of Use: Application & Handling
Described by Kuraray as “the easy way to optimize bondings,” KATANA Cleaner features a flip-top cap that enables one-handed opening, and the material is purple in color to ensure optimal visibility during placement and cleanup. Formulated with a viscosity for easy placement and handling, KATANA Cleaner requires only 10 seconds of rubbing to thoroughly clean the surface.
Several evaluators described the cleaner’s ease of application as their favorite feature, including Dr. Robert Wilkoff, who said KATANA Cleaner “didn’t spread or leak excessively and was easy to rinse off the crown’s intaglio.” Dr. R.J. Sondkar
praised the “ergonomically designed bottle/dispenser that allows single-hand usage.” Several evaluators mentioned
the cleaner’s purple color, including Dr. dela Cruz, who said, “It is easy to see and easy to rinse, and [the color] makes it
easy to distinguish where it’s placed on intaglio surfaces.” Dr. Steven Berk also called KATANA Cleaner “extremely easy to see where it was placed due to its purple color,” and Dr. James DeFilippo described it as “quick and easy” to use but said he would have preferred a bit more viscosity.
Cleaning Effectiveness
KATANA Cleaner is formulated with proprietary surface-active MDP salt, which greatly enhances cleaning efficacy. “It is a well-made product that is an effective cleanser and is simple to use and predictable,” said Dr. Sondkar. “It helped improve
cleaning the crowns before cementing,” shared Dr. John Rezaei, and Dr. DeFilippo explained, “It helps clean any matter that accumulated inside the crown or abutment while trying it in and making adjustments.” Calling KATANA Cleaner “very effective in eliminating the smear layer,” Dr. Berk added, “I have been using it to seat zirconia crowns and have had good results so far.” Commenting on an additional benefit, Dr. Edward Kusek said that his patients “did not have any sensitivity with its use.”
Bonding & Versatility
KATANA Cleaner’s versatility is two-fold. Its mild 4.5 pH value sets it apart from other cleaners by enabling both extraoral
and intraoral use, and it effectively cleans virtually all contaminated restorative materials (glass ceramic, zirconia, resin, metal, fiber posts, and implant abutments) and prepared tooth structures (dentin, enamel, root canals, and tooth abutments).
Concerned about the prospect of debonded crowns, Dr. Wilkoff told DPS that KATANA Cleaner “appeared to work as well as or better than the competitors,” although he acknowledged the need for 1-2 years of use for a thorough evaluation.
Also commenting on the need for longterm evaluation, Dr. DeFilippo said that KATANA Cleaner “handles well and appears to work well.” Noting that he used the cleaner on zirconia onlays prior to bonding, Dr. dela Cruz shared, “I will track any that come off after using this, but I doubt that will happen.”
KATANA Cleaner is unique in its ability to clean restorations both intraorally and extraorally, which was appreciated by the evaluators. Glad that he found a product that adequately cleans the tooth surface or restoration prior to cementation, Dr. Sondkar said he “used KATANA Cleaner in multiple clinical restorative scenarios with consistent satisfaction.”
Overall Satisfaction
Impressed with the ease of use and efficacy of this all-purpose universal cleaner, the evaluators deemed KATANA Cleaner to be a DPS Best Product. Dr. Michael Tarighati summed up his experience with the cleaner by describing it simply as “overall, a great product.” And Dr. dela Cruz concluded, “I am confident in the long-term prognosis of zirconia crowns luted after using KATANA Cleaner.”
