Frequently Asked Questions

Click on any of the toggles below to see our experts answers to our most commonly asked questions about Onyfix.

There is NO downtime. Once the Onyfix compound has been cured (hardened with the LED light), your patient is free to do whatever activity they already had planned… running, swimming or dancing – you name it they can participate.

There are no known contraindications to using the Onyfix system. As it does not touch the skin there have been no reported allergic reactions. It is not a brace and there is no torque or foreign objects such as hooks or suction cups involved that can put your patient at risk. By fixing the nail through its own natural physiological growth the Onyfix Nail Correction System is safe for even the highest risk patients. This includes children, pregnant women and even patients with peripheral neuropathy who are not candidates for a surgical matrixectomy.

Absolutely. Once the Onyfix compound is cured your patient can bathe, shower and swim as they like.

Yes – as long as they are using a nail polish that can be removed with acetone or liquid nail polish remover. A gel or shellac polish that requires mechanical debridement or filing to be removed should not be used as the Onyfix strip may come off during the debridement.

The application of the Onyfix is quick and easy but if even one step is missed than the bonding process can be compromised. Some trouble shooting tips:
  • Make sure  to cure the primer for 30 – 45 seconds. Wipe away any excess moisture following the curing process.
  • make sure that the battery in your light is fully charged. There is no indicator light to show when it is charged. Plug it in for three full hours to ensure maximum charge. A good rule of thumb is to recharge for only 3 hours after every 10 – 15 patients. Overcharging the battery for longer than this can shorten the lifespan.
  • Make sure to charge the battery when you first receive it- even if it already seems to have a charge. When the charge is weak the light will not have the strength to properly cure the resin.
  •  Another common reason for strips falling off is if the nail is very thin or if there’s lifting or onycholysis present. If this is the case you might want to try applying two layers of the soft Onyfix one on top of the other instead of the hard as seen in the clinical video.
  • Always make sure the strip you apply is 2 mm high by 2 mm wide for best results, but if the nail is very thin and brittle you can try using 2 layers of the soft product 3 mm wide while still maintaining the 2 mm high.
  • Take care to not touch the skin during the application process as the oils in the skin can affect the bonding process.
  • If using a water drill turn off the spray- water will keep the composite from bonding properly.
  • make sure you use non woven sponges when prepping the nail with rubbing alcohol. Cotton balls and gauze can leave microscopic lint that can interfere with the bond.
  • Make sure you apply the strip of onyfix straight across the nail. Some practitioners are tempted when faced with a pincer nails to place the Onyfix in a curved U or horseshoe shape, but angling the tips of the strips puts extra pressure on them and can cause the strip to dislodge easier.

It is interesting to note that the hard and soft products are the same, just different consistencies for ease or application for different issues.
Onyfix®Hard is a denser compound used for big nails, thick nails and strong deformations.
Onyfix®Soft has a more glue like consistency that is more suited for small, thin and for children’s nails and split nails.
Tip: interesting to note you can put two coats of the soft on for the same effect as the hard. This stays on better for younger, thinner and more flexible nails.

It is important to remember that blood and other body fluids can impede the bonding process of the Onyfix band. If the area is weepy it would be best to have your patient come back for the Onyfix application following antibiotic therapy.

Onyfix typically shines in correcting involuted nails. That being said, many practitioners have found that the support the Onyfix provides to the nail can help prevent the nail from growing into the raised distal portion, depending on the degree of club. Try applying a strip about halfway up the nail for best results.

Onyfix patients should come back for a follow up at six weeks to clear the nail grooves out with a curette and reduce distal pressure with the blacks file. Have the patient return again another 6 weeks after that and at this point you can add an additional proximal strip.
  • When you add this proximal strip the original strip will have been on for about 3 months and likely will be positioned quite distally now from nail growth. Leave the original strip on (the patient will have two strips on until the distal one falls off).
  • After this, follow up every three months for a re-application of a proximal strip until the problem is fixed.

It is a legal requirement to put the expiry date of the first item in the kit that will expire. The first item in the Onyfix starter kit that would expire is the primer because the primer is liquid and can evaporate once opened. The expiry date for this is listed as about 1 year. To maintain the integrity of your product do not leave the lids off of the products and do not store in direct sunlight. Room temperature or cooler is ideal.

Podiatrists and Chiropodists are recognizing better results when using Onyfix post PNA and TNA for a straighter nail regrowth. When used as part of the PNA protocol, simply apply the a double Onyfix strip (one located as approximately as possible and a second about mid nail) immediately following the procedure and reassess at three months. The patient likely will require two applications.
When used as part of the TNA protocol, have the patient come back around the two month mark and apply a strip of the soft Onyfix to the delicate nub of nail as it grows out. The soft composite is a better choice for a new and softer nail. Reassess about four months later and reapply as necessary.

Onyfix is made of a proprietary composite formulation that binds to the keratin of the nails as opposed to dental anagram, which binds to teeth.
Acrylics were never designed to use to correct nail issues. They are not safe for use on all patients and they are not clinically proven to work. The Onyfix compound is a class one medical device approved for the prevention and treatment of medical conditions.

Yes! The best protocol to treat pincer toenails is to apply two Onyfix strips – one proximally and the other placed about mid toenail. Let the patient know the distal strip will likely fall off sooner which is normal and expected. You can then continue to apply a proximal strip as the nail grows out.

The light is an LED light that focuses on the near infra red rays that are healthy and do NOT stimulate carcinogens. It filters out the harmful UV rays and does not concentrate them enough to cause eye damage so neither you nor your patient need to wear glasses.
Tip – Its important to note you must use the light provided in the tool kit. It is specifically designed to work optimally with the resin. The polymerization or hardening of the compound needs a very specific power and wavelength.

Each Onyfix band/ strip application is charged in addition to the standard office treatment fee. Professional are charging anywhere from $75 – $225 per strip depending on your area and demand. These margins are excellent as the product typically costs about eight dollars per strip and the strip can be applied in less than five minutes.

Please see the commonly asked questions list. There are also monthly complimentary Q & A sessions with expert Bree Wright RN where you can discuss your specific questions live. She will also include new tricks and tips for the Onyfix system during this presentation. Go to Fiser.ca to register for the next session.

It’s important to note the Onyfix strip typically dislodges when it reaches the distal third portion of the nail.
How long does that take? This is completely patient dependent. A 25 year old healthy nail is going to grow faster and need to be replaced quicker than a 90 year old gryphotic nail. For the average adult, typically between the ages of 25-65 the Onyfix is usually very secure for about 4 months before reaching that distal portion of the nail and falling off. For nails on older patients who’s nail grow more slowly one strip can stay on for 8-9 months.

This is again very patient dependent based on how quickly the nail is growing and the degree of the involution. On average it takes just over a year for the Onyfix to correct the involution. This means the patient will likely need between 2 – 4 strips to correct the problem.

After more than three years of use Neubourg is finding that unless there are other aggravating factors such as foot wear that is too tight or biomechanical issues, the nails do not reinvolute.

Yes! The Onyfix strip loves a stable base and a thick nail that moves very little is ideal. It actually tends to be the thinner nails with more movement that cause the Onyfix to dislodge.