What EN 556's 2024 Edition Means for Your Sterile Drapes and Gowns
In April 2025 the EU harmonised new 2024 editions of EN 556, the standard behind the word STERILE on medical devices. Here's what to check before reordering drapes, gowns and suct…
Blog
Practical notes on dental infection control, barrier protection and imaging equipment, written for the people who use them every day.
The Reusable-vs-Disposable Research Doesn't Cover Every Barrier You Use
A 2022 life-cycle study puts real numbers on disposable vs. reusable PPE. Here's what those numbers apply to in your practice, and why equipment barriers are a different decision…
Short-Staffed Practices Need Barriers That Don't Need a Second Pair of Hands
Hygienist and assistant recruitment is still difficult, and EU guidance now asks for more documented infection-control effort. Here's what that means for your barrier protocol.
Acteon's Compact CBCT Puts the Control Panel Right Below the Chin Rest
Acteon's new wall-mounted X-MIND optima 3D folds the capture controls into the positioning assembly to save floor space. Here's what that layout means for your imaging-room barrie…
What EN 13795 Actually Tests on a Dental Surgery Drape
A sterile drape carries a CE mark and not much else on the label. EN 13795 is the test standard behind it — here's what its numbers mean for the drape over your next implant case.
The EU Ban on Vague 'Eco-Friendly' Labels Takes Effect This Month
From 27 September 2026, EU law bans generic claims like 'eco-friendly' and 'biodegradable' unless certified. What it means for the barrier sleeve boxes on your supply shelf.
The Chairside 3D Printer Wash Station Nobody Added to the Barrier Protocol
3D printers are now more common than mills in US practices. The wash-and-cure station that comes with one needs the same touchpoint barrier protocol as everything else in the room.
CDC's Own Checklist Names the Barrier Surfaces Most Practices Never Audit
Dental Infection Control Awareness Month's 2026 theme is consistency, not novelty. CDC's audit checklist already names the barrier surfaces most practices tick 'yes' on without ev…
The Biocompatibility Standard Behind Your Barrier Products Just Got Rewritten
ISO 10993-1 was rewritten in November 2025 and just joined the EU MDR's harmonised standards list. Here is what changed for any product that touches a patient.
The Saliva Ejector Instruction CDC Says to Stop Giving
A 2024 survey found most clinicians still tell patients to close their lips around the saliva ejector — the exact habit CDC guidance has warned against for two decades.
The EU Is Reviewing the Rulebook Behind Every Disinfectant You Buy
The European Commission has opened a formal review of the Biocidal Products Regulation — the EU law that authorises every surface and hand disinfectant sold in dental practices.
What the EU's New Battery Rule Means for Your Portable X-Ray Unit
The EU has carved out a professional-only battery service category for imaging devices. Here's what it means for a handheld X-ray unit or wireless intraoral camera.