Startup Guide · Updated July 2026
Complete PPE Checklist for Opening a UK Dental Practice
Everything a new UK dental practice needs to stock on day one — mapped to CQC, HTM 01-05, and current UK dental infection prevention guidance.
If you're opening a new UK dental practice in 2026, PPE is not the place to improvise. This checklist is built for a standard two-surgery independent practice registering with the CQC and preparing for its first inspection. All items map to HTM 01-05, NHS decontamination standards, and current UK dental infection prevention guidance.
The regulatory framework in 30 seconds
A UK dental practice must meet three concurrent regimes on PPE and infection prevention:
- CQC registration — inspection framework covering safety, cleanliness, and infection control (Regulation 12 & 15).
- HTM 01-05 — the Department of Health technical memorandum for dental decontamination in primary care.
- PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 as retained in UK law — mandating CE or UKCA marking on all clinical PPE.
Missing PPE stock at inspection is not just a paperwork problem — it can delay your CQC registration by weeks and cost you patient revenue.
The Day-One PPE Checklist (2-surgery independent practice)
1. Face protection
| Item | Standard | Opening stock |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical masks Type IIR | EN 14683 | 40 boxes (2,000 masks) |
| FFP2 or FFP3 respirators | EN 149 | 2 boxes for AGP protocols |
| Full-face visors (reusable + disposable) | EN 166 | 6 reusable + 200 disposable |
| Safety eyewear (side-shielded) | EN 166 | 6 pairs (2 per clinical operative + spares) |
2. Gloves
| Item | Standard | Opening stock |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrile examination gloves (non-sterile) | EN 455-1/2/3/4, EN 374 | 30 boxes × 100 (S/M/L/XL mix) |
| Latex examination gloves | EN 455 series | 10 boxes × 100 (backup — nitrile primary) |
| Sterile surgical gloves (individually packed) | EN 455-1, EN 556 | 4 boxes × 50 pairs (sizes 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0) |
| Heavy-duty utility gloves | EN 374, EN 388 | 4 pairs (labelled per-surgery) |
3. Body protection
| Item | Standard | Opening stock |
|---|---|---|
| Disposable clinical aprons (polythene) | EN 13795 (non-critical) | 10 rolls of 200 |
| Disposable long-sleeve gowns (fluid-resistant) | EN 13795, EN 14126 | 2 boxes × 50 for AGPs |
| Sterile surgical gowns (implants, extractions) | EN 13795 | 30 individually packed |
| Clinician tunics / scrubs (washable) | Practice policy, 60°C wash | 5 sets per team member |
4. Head and foot protection
| Item | Standard | Opening stock |
|---|---|---|
| Disposable mob caps / bouffants | Non-woven, elasticated | 2 boxes × 100 |
| Overshoes / shoe covers | Non-woven, elasticated | 1 box × 200 |
5. Patient protection
| Item | Notes | Opening stock |
|---|---|---|
| Patient bibs (paper-poly) | Fluid-resistant back, adhesive or chain | 10 boxes × 500 |
| Sterile surgical drapes | EN 13795 — for implant / OS work | 30 packs |
| Patient safety eyewear | Wipeable, autoclave-compatible | 6 pairs |
Budget expectation — realistic opening PPE spend
- Major-wholesaler pricing (Henry Schein / Dental Sky): £1,900 – £2,400
- Independent-wholesaler pricing (Hospitrade tier): £1,200 – £1,600
- Ongoing monthly PPE burn (steady state): £380 – £550
What CQC inspectors actually look for on PPE
- Stock rotated. Nothing expired on shelf. FIFO practice visible.
- Batch numbers and expiries logged.
- PPE stored appropriately. Sterile items in sealed cabinets.
- Sizes available. XS/S/M/L/XL gloves stocked.
- Staff can locate items instantly.
- Records show supplier compliance. CE/UKCA declaration for every PPE line held.
The five most common startup PPE mistakes
- Over-ordering gloves in medium only.
- Buying Type II masks instead of Type IIR (fails AGP requirements).
- Skimping on FFP3 respirators.
- Buying non-fluid-resistant gowns for AGPs.
- Sourcing from marketplaces without CE/UKCA documentation.
Sourcing recommendation
The Hospitrade PPE collection stocks the full checklist above — EN 14683 masks, EN 455 gloves, EN 13795 gowns, patient bibs and drapes — with next-day UK delivery, trade accounts for verified practices, and full documentation packs supplied on request.
Frequently asked questions
What PPE does the CQC require a new UK dental practice to have on Day 1?
The CQC does not publish a specific list — it evaluates against Regulations 12 and 15. In practice, inspectors expect to see EN 14683 Type IIR surgical masks, FFP2/FFP3 respirators, EN 455 nitrile gloves in mixed sizes, EN 13795 clinical gowns, disposable aprons, safety eyewear, and appropriate patient protection — all with visible batch and expiry records.
Is FFP3 mandatory for UK dental practices in 2026?
Not mandatory as blanket policy, but currently expected for AGPs performed on patients in higher-risk cohorts. Every practice should stock a small supply and have fit-testing records for at least one respirator model per clinical team member.
Can I use latex gloves as my primary examination glove in a UK dental practice?
Yes, but nitrile is the recommended primary choice due to latex allergy prevalence. Keep latex as a backup for staff or patients who react to nitrile accelerators.
How often do I need to reorder PPE for a two-chair practice?
Weekly for high-turnover items (masks, gloves, aprons, patient bibs) and monthly for lower-turnover items (gowns, respirators, drapes). Many UK practices set up standing orders with wholesalers such as Hospitrade for weekly automatic delivery.
What's the realistic monthly PPE cost for a small UK dental practice?
Approximately £380–£550 per month for a steady-state two-clinician practice buying from independent wholesalers. Major wholesalers typically add 30–50% for equivalent EN-certified stock.
The bottom line
Your PPE stock is one of the first things a CQC inspector reviews. Get the checklist above right on day one, keep documentation in order, and buy from suppliers who can produce full certification packs on request. For a fully stocked opening order, Hospitrade's PPE collection covers the entire day-one list with next-day delivery.
