The EU Amalgam Ban's Supply-Side Deadline Has Now Passed
Regulation (EU) 2024/1849's ban on manufacturing and importing dental amalgam took effect 1 July 2026. What the derogations, exemptions, and Northern Ireland carve-out mean for yo…
Blog
Practical notes on dental infection control, barrier protection and imaging equipment, written for the people who use them every day.
The Keyboard Next to Your Chair Is a Contamination Reservoir Nobody Audits
Two contamination studies tested the keyboard, mouse and phone at chairside — not just the sensor. Here's what they found and what a barrier protocol needs to cover.
EN 14683:2025: What the Updated Mask Standard Means for Your Next Order
The standard behind every Type IIR surgical mask was revised in early 2025. Some test limits moved. Here is what to ask your supplier before you reorder.
The EU Wants Manufacturers to Justify Every 'Single-Use' Label
Brussels wants manufacturers to justify every 'single-use' label instead of assuming it. What the MDR simplification proposal actually says, and what it means for your disposables.
The EU's PFAS Restriction Cleared a Key Milestone: What Dental Practices Should Track
ECHA's scientific committees have backed an EU-wide PFAS restriction with derogations for medical devices. It's years from taking effect, but here's the timeline and what to watch.
Your Syringe Sleeve Covers the Handle. The Tip Needs Its Own Protocol.
CDC guidance draws a hard line between the air/water syringe body and its tip. A barrier sleeve covers one job. Sterilization or disposal covers the other.
Your Scanner Tip Is Sterile. What About Everything Else You Touch?
CAD/CAM scanner tips are designed to be sterilized between patients. The keyboard, mouse and cord around them aren't — here's the noncritical-surface framework and what to check.
New Imaging Equipment, New MDR Rules: What to Check Before You Reorder Sleeves
Vatech's full-portfolio MDR certification and new EU rules for notified bodies point to more current imaging equipment reaching practices. That's a good moment to re-check your ba…
Germany's Updated Hygiene Guide Confirms What a Barrier Sleeve Does and Doesn't Change
Germany's 2026 dental hygiene guide names barrier sleeves directly: which devices qualify, why reprocessing can skip a separate room, and what a sleeve doesn't change.
Dental Unit Waterlines: What the Flush Protocol Means for Your Barrier Sleeves
CDC and ADA guidance on dental unit water quality names three devices that draw from the waterline. Here is what that means for the barrier sleeves on each one.
Phosphor Plates Need More Than a Barrier Envelope Between Patients
Phosphor plates can't go in the autoclave. Research on barrier envelope failures and current CDC guidance point to the same gap: what happens between removal and rebagging.
CDC Names Handpieces and Scalers as Spray Risks: What That Means for Barriers
CDC guidance says handpieces and ultrasonic scalers throw a visible spray of droplets and aerosols. PPE covers the clinician. Here's what covers the equipment.