The EU's Packaging Law Already Applies to Your Barrier Sleeve Box
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 took effect in August. It already touches the carton your sleeves ship in — and mostly leaves the sleeve pouch alone, for now.
Blog
Practical notes on dental infection control, barrier protection and imaging equipment, written for the people who use them every day.
Dental Barrier Sleeves Have Their Own FDA Device Code. Here's What It Actually Covers
In the US, a disposable barrier sleeve is a Class II device under its own FDA product code. Here's what that paperwork covers, and how the EU does it differently.
ISO 15883-6:2026: Why Powered Equipment Still Needs a Barrier, Not a Washer
A new ISO standard for washer-disinfectors, published January 2026, explicitly excludes powered devices from thermal disinfection — keyboards, sensors and cameras still need a bar…
Travel and Procurement, Not Packaging, Drive a Dental Practice's Carbon Footprint
Two independent studies quantify where a dental practice's carbon footprint actually comes from — and packaging is the smallest slice, not the biggest.
The EU's New Implant Exemption List Includes 'Dental Barriers.' Here's What That Is
Two 2026 EU delegated regulations ease MDR review for mature dental devices. The exemption list uses the term 'dental barriers' -- and it is not what you might assume.
ISO 11607-3 Covers the Pouch Seal, Not Your Sterilization Routine
A new ISO standard sets out how manufacturers validate heat-sealing on sterile barrier pouches. It's voluntary and aimed at suppliers, not practices — but it's a fair question for…
What an IP68 Rating on Your Sensor Doesn't Tell You
Sensor spec sheets now list IP67 or IP68 ratings. That number tests water and dust ingress, not disinfection — and it doesn't change CDC's barrier and disinfecting requirements be…
What the EU's New Reference-Level Recommendation Means for Dental X-Rays
The EU's February 2026 Recommendation reshapes how national dose reference levels are built. A 2025 survey shows dental CBCT still has patchy coverage across Europe.
The EU's MDR Fix Won't Undo What Your Supplier Already Discontinued
The Commission's December proposal would cut compliance costs for small device makers going forward. It does nothing about the products they have already dropped.
The Cleaning Instructions on Your Sensor Box Just Became a Listed Hazard
ECRI's 2026 hazard report names inconsistent manufacturer cleaning instructions as a patient-safety risk, not staff technique. Here's what that means for sensors, cameras and hand…
Notified Bodies Now Have Deadlines. Your Barrier Sleeves Never Needed One.
The Commission's own July 2026 survey shows equipment certificates taking over a year. New EU deadlines target notified bodies — Class I barrier sleeves were never in that queue.
Kerr's Demi Pro Has a Rotating Tip. Here's What That Means for Your Barrier Sleeve.
Kerr's new Demi Pro curing light rotates a full circle at the tip. That changes when you fit the barrier sleeve, not just whether you use one.