Autoclaves use high-pressure saturated steam to ensure instruments are free from microbial contamination. They effectively eliminate bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores, preventing cross-contamination and ensuring patient safety. Without them, dental clinics would be breeding grounds for contamination and infection.
Investing in a reliable autoclave goes beyond mere compliance. It’s essential for ensuring high-quality patient care and safeguarding the dental team.
The autoclave market has seen substantial growth in recent years. It has been propelled by a heightened focus on infection control and stricter regulations within the healthcare industry, particularly in dentistry. This surge has sparked a growing demand for more advanced, efficient and user-friendly autoclave models, driving innovation in the field.
Technological advancements and competitive dynamics are shaping the design of modern autoclaves. This significantly improves their safety, ease of use and efficiency, and speeds up the sterilisation process.
Manufacturers are now developing products tailored to the specific needs of dental practices. These new models incorporate a range of enhancements, such as:
This guide offers insights into some of the autoclave makes and models available in the UK market, helping you make informed decisions for your practice.
NSK is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of dental handpieces and small equipment. It also has a significant reputation in decontamination, particularly in improving the standards of handpiece decontamination to extend the life of precision instruments.
A reliable, easy-to-use autoclave is essential for the day-to-day running of a dental practice. It ensures that reusable instruments and other medical devices are made safe for patients and handling by the dental team. Hollow instruments like handpieces need effective, validated sterilisation after they have been disinfected and lubricated. As the leading handpiece manufacturer, NSK is virtually in a unique position to focus efforts on ensuring this happens. All air must be removed from the chamber to allow steam to penetrate the instrument, which is why a good B-type vacuum autoclave should be used to sterilise handpieces.
NSK’s Imax S S-type autoclave and Iclave plus B-type vacuum autoclaves have been developed to sterilise all instruments, particularly dental handpieces.
Both autoclaves incorporate a thermally efficient copper chamber. This results in improved performance and faster, more efficient cycles than traditional autoclave chambers of equivalent size and capacity.
The Iclave plus type B vacuum autoclave is suitable for processing a wide variety of loads. This includes hollow, porous and packaged loads, including hollow instruments in sealed packaging as per industry standards. In addition, this B-type unit can perform S-type cycles when time is a critical factor in reprocessing. Iclave plus offers more sterilisation space than a conventional stainless steel chamber of the same size. This ensures greater safety by reducing instrument overcrowding.
There are options for auto-draining the dirty water tank and adding the ‘purity’ dedicated RO unit. This can sit on top of your Iclave and produce the correct water quality.
If cost is the predominant factor in the procurement decision, an effective S-type unit is available for practices not wishing to process pouched and surgical handpieces.
Whichever option you choose, as a leading handpiece manufacturer NSK is dedicated in its design and support of decon equipment to prolong the life of hollow instruments.
NSK Support is a phone call away – from our nationwide team or our autoclave engineers. Talk to our team about your specific Decon requirements.
See the latest offers on NSK autoclaves here
To learn more about NSK’s range of autoclaves and find the perfect fit for your practice, its experts can assist you with personalised recommendations and support. Purchase, then pay-as-you-go on annual service/pressure testing/validation options or take out a service contract that covers everything, including accidental damage.
*T&Cs apply
**When the unit is warm
Dentsply Sirona is one of the world’s largest professional dental products and technologies manufacturers.
DAC Universal S: The sterilisation of DAC Universal S is not only bactericidal, mycobactericidal and fungicide but also fully virucidal, including:
It complies with infection control standards at the touch of a button and avoids cross-contamination.
Designed to enhance infection control in dental practices, the Pureclave products include a variety of sterilisation solutions tailored to meet the rigorous hygiene standards required in modern dentistry. There are three options – the S1, S2 and S3 Pureclave.
The sterilisers are designed to be easy to use and safely operated, with seamless documentation. Features like touchscreen navigation, intuitive menu and traceability offer several benefits that make your work easier and more efficient.
The sterilisers cater to solid and hollow products, ensuring compliance with manufacturer specifications.
Smooth surfaces, a fresh, ergonomic design and a clear colour display. For comprehensive infection control, S1 Pureclave equals high-level infection prevention.
Key features and benefits:
The colour touch screen makes decon easy, fast and efficient, offering a comprehensive traceability system customised to a practice’s needs.
Key features and benefits:
This steriliser is simple to operate and has an ergonomic and functional design, appropriate sterilisation cycles and upgradeable functions, guaranteeing high efficiency and excellent results.
Key features and benefits:
For more than 70 years, Melag has been dedicated to developing, producing and optimising solutions for instrument reprocessing. Its Careclave systems offer an innovative four-in-one solution that blends cleaning, disinfection, lubrication and sterilisation into one streamlined device.
Careclave consolidates multiple functions into a single unit: washer-disinfector, lubrication unit, steam steriliser and documentation system. This integration enhances safety and efficiency, offering maximum patient and staff protection.
Careclave, paired with the Carebox, ensures optimal cleaning and disinfection of up to eight transmission instruments, prophylaxis handpieces or ultrasonic scaler tips in just 16 minutes.
The Addcare station within Careclave provides lubrication directly after reprocessing.
Careclave excels in steam sterilisation. Its patented Double Jacket Technology and Drytelligence features allow it to handle up to 11kg of instruments.
Careclave’s design saves up to 45% of space compared to using separate devices, making it ideal for practices with limited decontamination room space.
The device simplifies documentation with a large Smart-Touch Display and Procontrol, which offers digital proof of successful reprocessing directly via USB or network.
Careclave accommodates various loading needs:
The Melatherm 10 Evolution series offers enhanced performance and user-friendly features. It can reprocess 23 handpieces and instruments for up to 40 patients in 60 minutes, optimising instrument decontamination and workflow efficiency.
Key features:
Melag 22B
Melag 23B
Melag 23L
Melag 31B
Melag 31L
Melag 45B
W&H is a leading global player in the dental technology industry. Its dental autoclave range offers a variety of sterilisation solutions tailored to the needs of modern dental practices.
The Lisa range represents W&H’s premium line of dental autoclaves, known for their speed, efficiency and advanced features. The Lisa autoclaves are fully automated and have a touchscreen interface for easy operation and monitoring. They feature W&H’s patented Eco Dry+ technology, which adjusts the drying time based on the load, reducing the cycle time while maintaining instrument quality. The Lisa models offer comprehensive traceability options, including a user log and customisable load cycles. This makes them ideal for practices that require strict documentation and validation processes.
The new generation of Lisa sterilisers from W&H offers intelligent and innovative solutions like Elisense and Elitrace, which provide extraordinary user friendliness and traceability down to the individual instrument.
Key features:
Traceability and safety:
Key features:
Traceability and safety:
Anthos manufactures decontamination units engineered to ensure the highest hygiene standards with reliable and efficient sterilisation of dental instruments.
An advanced dental sterilisation device featuring a closed-loop water recycling system. This system allows the use of tap water by incorporating an internal demineralisation filter, which simplifies setup and reduces maintenance and costs. The autoclave also includes a nano-ceramic recirculation filter to purify and reuse water, with minimal consumption of just five litres per 50 cycles. The Easycheck function enables remote diagnostics for quick troubleshooting, and the LED bar provides real-time status updates on the sterilisation process through colour changes.
The Tethys H10 Plus is engineered to optimise instrument reconditioning by combining essential functions into a single automated cycle. This includes decontamination, washing, thermal disinfection and drying. These aim to improve overall effectiveness and efficiency in the workflow. One of its key features is the integration of ultrasound and heat for comprehensive cleaning and disinfection.
The process starts with a cold prewash and a triple-pressure rinse to ensure thorough contaminant removal. At the same time, the thermal disinfection is conducted at 90°C using a validated heat treatment process to eliminate microorganisms. This efficient system contributes to faster cycle times and increased productivity.
Completing the entire reconditioning cycle in just 35 minutes, the Tethys H10 Plus significantly reduces instrument reconditioning time and enhances workflow. Connectivity options allow easy data access and monitoring without requiring dedicated software. Its user-friendly, configurable design simplifies reconditioning, improves safety and minimises manual intervention.
Prestige Medical is a well-established sterilisation brand known for its high-quality autoclaves. These autoclaves are designed to meet the stringent sterilisation requirements of dental instruments, ensuring they are safe for use. Prestige Medical autoclaves are recognised for their reliability, ease of use and compliance with international standards.
A free-standing, cabinet-enclosed unit is as simple and easy to use as any tabletop autoclave. The 3870 HSG is a hospital-grade class B autoclave suitable for large dental clinics and operating rooms. It is designed to be a mobile fast-cycle steriliser, operates 24 hours a day and can optionally operate independently of building utilities. Packed with all the features and reliability of a large-capacity autoclave at a fraction of the size and cost, the 3870 HSG now comes with Virus Protective Shield, a virus pre-sterilisation cycle.
This space-saving, fully automatic tabletop autoclave provides high-speed class B performance. This saves you time so you can assist your patients while meeting current international standards and regulatory requirements to protect your staff and patients. The T-Edge 10|11 autoclaves will operate without interruption daily, offering efficiency and safety.
The T-Top is a 22-litre tabletop autoclave designed specifically for small to medium dental practices, providing essential sterilisation capabilities to enhance productivity in your clinic. It combines universal capacity with affordability and reliability, ensuring it meets the daily demands of your sterilisation workload. With perfect performance, ergonomics, technology and usability, the T-Top delivers efficient, high-quality sterilisation tailored to standard practices. Equipped with advanced class B cycles, intuitive colour touchscreen controls and Wi-Fi connectivity, this autoclave brings modern, user-friendly technology to your practice.
Eschmann has been designing and manufacturing autoclaves for more than 60 years. With so many years of research behind them, Little Sister autoclaves are manufactured in the UK.
Offers a choice of both ‘B’ and ‘N’ type cycles to accommodate every instrument and load. The 23-litre capacity chamber enables more instruments to be processed at one time and longer instruments (up to 370mm in length) while still fitting onto a standard-sized work surface.
Offers a choice of both ‘B’ and ‘N’ type cycles to accommodate every instrument and load. The 17-litre chamber accommodates five standard trays (28cm x 18cm), 10 examination trays or 10 HFiT cassettes.
Fast cycles ensure the Little Sister SES 2020N meets the needs of a busy healthcare facility. The 17-litre chamber accommodates five standard trays (28cm x 18cm), 10 examination trays or 10 HFiT cassettes, helping to improve productivity and reduce staff strain.
Includes a colour touchscreen, modernising the unit and bringing it to the exact high specification of its other autoclaves. Users can acknowledge every cycle, ensuring full-cycle validation following guidance. With the addition of the USB port, cycle records can be downloaded at a later date.
Understanding the types and volumes of instruments you will be sterilising is crucial. Consider the frequency of use, as this will influence the size and type of autoclave best suited to your dental practice. For instance, a busy clinic might require a larger capacity or a faster cycle time to meet demand.
Take the time to compare various autoclave models, focusing on features such as cycle time, capacity and ease of use. Reliability is critical in ensuring that your instruments are consistently sterilised, so look for models with a strong reputation for performance and durability. Consider consulting online reviews and expert recommendations for insights.
Compliance with industry standards is non-negotiable. Ensure the autoclave you choose meets all necessary certifications and regulations. This not only ensures safety but also helps avoid potential legal issues.
While the upfront cost of an autoclave is essential, consider the long-term operational costs, including energy consumption and maintenance. Energy-efficient models might have a higher initial price but can offer substantial savings on utility bills over time, making them more cost-effective in the long run.
Leverage your experiences by reading user reviews on trusted platforms and seeking recommendations from colleagues or industry experts. Dental shows are ideal opportunities to see what the manufacturers offer up close and have face-to-face chats with salespeople. This can provide valuable insights into the pros and cons of different models and brands, helping you make a more informed decision.
When speaking with suppliers or manufacturers, don’t hesitate to ask detailed questions about the autoclave’s performance, warranty and after-sales service. Clarifying any doubts beforehand can prevent potential issues down the line and ensure the autoclave meets all your specific requirements.
Before shopping, list your essential features, such as cycle speed, capacity and sterilisation options. Use this checklist when evaluating different models to ensure you choose an autoclave that perfectly aligns with your practice’s needs.
While budget is crucial, selecting an autoclave based solely on price can lead to problems. A cheaper model might lack essential features, have higher operational costs or require more frequent maintenance, leading to higher overall expenses.
Regular maintenance is essential to keep your autoclave functioning efficiently. Ensure you choose a model from a manufacturer or supplier that offers robust service support, including easy access to replacement parts and trained technicians who can assist with repairs and maintenance.
Ensure the autoclave can handle your practice’s workload. An autoclave that’s too small for your needs will slow down your workflow, while one that’s too large may be unnecessarily expensive and wasteful. Carefully assess your practice’s instrument load to choose an autoclave with the appropriate capacity.
Safety should be a top priority. Ensure the model has robust mechanisms to protect users. Look for autoclaves with automatic shut-off, pressure and temperature monitors and safety locks to protect staff from potential hazards. Ensure these safety features meet current industry standards.
A strong warranty can offer peace of mind, covering repairs or replacements in case of defects. Additionally, robust customer support is essential for troubleshooting issues and getting the most out of your autoclave. Check the warranty terms and the responsiveness of the manufacturer’s support team before making a purchase.
Once you have gathered all the necessary information, compare the options and make an informed decision that balances cost, efficiency and reliability. Investing in a suitable autoclave will enhance the safety and efficiency of your practice, ensuring a high standard of care for your patients.