Opening a new dental practice means sourcing everything at once, and it is easy to either overspend on equipment that will not get used daily or underspend on the consumables that run out fastest. Here is a realistic starting checklist.
Core consumables to stock from day one
- CE-certified Type IIR surgical masks and full-range nitrile gloves
- Self-seal sterilisation pouches in all sizes your instrument trays require
- Dental bibs, cotton rolls, and saliva ejectors sized for expected daily patient volume
- Single-use disposable gowns for fluid-exposure procedures
Instruments and equipment
- A handpiece system chosen based on expected procedure mix (see our NSK vs W&H vs KaVo comparison for detail)
- Basic examination instruments: mirrors, probes, and dental cotton roll dispensers
- Sterilisation equipment sized to expected daily instrument turnover
- Imaging: intraoral cameras and barrier envelopes if using digital X-ray
A practical sizing approach
A busy single-chair practice seeing 20 patients a day typically uses 400-600 dental bibs and a proportional volume of gloves and cotton rolls per month. Order an initial two to three month supply of high-turnover consumables rather than guessing, since running short in the first month while still establishing supplier relationships is avoidable with basic planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum PPE stock needed to open a new dental practice?
At minimum, Type IIR masks, full glove size range, sterilisation pouches sized to your instrument trays, and disposable gowns, ideally with two to three months of buffer stock while supplier relationships and reorder patterns are established.
How many dental bibs does a new practice need per month?
A single-chair practice seeing around 20 patients daily typically uses 400-600 bibs monthly; scale proportionally for additional chairs.
Should a new practice set up a trade account before opening?
Yes, setting up a trade account before opening day avoids the common mistake of ordering reactively once shortages appear, and typically secures better pricing than one-off retail purchases.
Hospitrade supports new UK dental practices with trade accounts, bulk pricing, and 2-4 day delivery on core consumables and equipment. Set up a trade account before opening day.
