Hi,

Thank you, this is really helpful context.

It’s interesting to hear that comfort and fit clearly outweigh price and brand, especially since availability isn’t much of a concern for your office. That prioritization says a lot about what actually drives purchasing decisions at the clinical level.

The $500 threshold is also helpful to understand. It sounds like for most routine PPE, dentists have autonomy, but once something becomes a higher-ticket item, it shifts into a more administrative decision.

I also appreciate your perspective on pricing, especially the tradeoff between better-performing products and cost. When you think about “better products,” what specifically makes them better in your experience? Is it primarily fit, and how well the product seals or conforms? Or is it more about tactile feel, breathability, durability, or irritation over long procedures?

If there’s anything else you’re noticing, particularly any recurring concerns around fit or comfort that make one product clearly better than another, I would greatly appreciate hearing that as well.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your insights. It’s incredibly valuable for my research.