Dentistry, like all other forms of surgery, employs a broad range of specialised instruments and equipment, and there is an equally wide range of companies that specialise in manufacturing these. Among the most prominent are Belmont and Acteon. Noted for their precision, durability and ease of operation, many of their products now form the backbone of the UK dental supplies industry.
The UK oral healthcare system comprises a mix of NHS and private practices, which, as of 2023, total approximately 11,000 independent dental providers. Hence, the demand for dental products in the UK is substantial and ongoing, as is the need for regular, expert dental equipment maintenance.
UK Dental Supplies Include a Broad Range of Products
Gone are the days when all it took to be a dentist was a steady hand, a pair of pliers, and a high tolerance for blood, and we’re all better for it. Twenty-first-century dental surgeries are pristine environments, furnished with advanced technology products and staffed by well-trained healthcare professionals. In addition to the more traditional dental practice hand tools, here are some of the modern dental products in the UK that dentists rely on today:
- For the surgery: Intraoral and diagnostic cameras are just two of the many available digital dental products in the UK. Units like the Acteon 717 Sopro Intra-Oral Camera offer dentists affordable high-definition imaging at the chairside. Other essential UK dental supplies include:
- Intraoral X-Ray Units
- Ultrasonic scalers, polishers and prophylaxis systems
- Dental handpieces
- Dental chairs and saddle stools
- For the digital scanning room: It is in this area that most of the digital dental products in the UK are used. Here, one can find intraoral, X-ray imaging scanners and perhaps an orthopantomogram, a device invaluable to orthodontic specialists for identifying the hard tissues in the oral cavity.
However, among the most potentially disruptive new digital dental products in the UK is the dental CAD/CAM unit, a digital technology borrowed from the manufacturing and design industry adapted for space-age dentistry.
High-definition images captured by an intraoral scanner or camera are rendered as 3-dimensional models by the CAD/CAM software and transmitted to an automated milling machine or 3D Printer. The latter uses the incoming digitised data to fashion a perfect, bespoke dental restoration at the chairside, where the dentist can fit it the same day, saving the patient an additional appointment and avoiding the added cost of using a dental mechanic.
- For the decontamination room: This is another area where UK dental supplies are helping to streamline the dentist’s day. Reverse osmosis and demineralisation systems ensure a plentiful supply of ultra-filtered water for use in washer disinfectors. Furthermore, the successive stages in the operating cycle of the latter units are programmable and no longer require constant monitoring. Other relevant products include:
- Dental autoclaves
- Ultrasonic baths
- Handpiece maintenance units
Care of UK Dental Supplies
Like the handpiece, many dental products in the UK and worldwide need regular preventative maintenance to ensure patient safety and avoid expensive repairs or replacements. Hague Dental Supplies stocks all the above products and more, and provide expert dental equipment maintenance. Why not get in touch or visit one of our showrooms to see for yourself?
