Choosing infection control suppliers is one of the most important sourcing decisions a dental clinic makes, because sterilization, instrument management and disposables touch every single appointment. Also, the companies below cover the main pieces of the workflow: sterilizers and reprocessing equipment, instrument cassettes, disposables and barriers, and the distributors that bring it all together. In addition, use the list to build a shortlist and then compare products against your own protocols.
Key takeaways
- Infection control spans equipment (sterilizers), instrument management (cassettes, trays) and consumables (barriers, pouches, disposables).
- The 10 companies below were chosen for range, specialization and market presence and are listed in no particular order.
- Every product should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU) and in line with CDC guidance.
- Manufacturers and distributors play different roles; many clinics use both.
Selection criteria: these are notable companies whose main focus includes infection control for dental practices, chosen for breadth of range, specialization and market presence. Generally, they are listed in no particular order, and this is not a ranking by revenue or quality. Furthermore, you can find more companies, filterable by focus, in our dental instruments supplier directory.
The top 10 infection control suppliers for dental clinics
1. Crosstex International
Based in Hauppauge, New York, Crosstex is a US manufacturer of infection-control and sterilization products. In practice, it is a specialist rather than a generalist, which makes it a natural first stop for consumables used at the chair and in the sterilization area.
Tip: when comparing sterilization pouches or indicators from any brand, check that they are compatible with your sterilizer cycle and follow the manufacturer’s IFU.
2. Hu-Friedy (HuFriedyGroup)
Chicago-based Hu-Friedy has made dental hand instruments since 1908 and also produces instrument management systems. Moreover, its focus covers hand instruments, periodontal instruments and infection control, so it suits clinics that want instruments and the cassettes they are reprocessed in to work together.
Tip: cassette-based reprocessing reduces handling of loose sharp instruments, which can lower the risk of sharps injuries during cleaning.
3. Midmark
Midmark is an Ohio-based US maker of dental and medical equipment and sterilization products. For clinics planning or upgrading a sterilization center, it is one of the companies that covers both the equipment side and the clinical environment.
4. W&H
Austria’s W&H, based in Bürmoos, makes handpieces, surgical units and sterilizers. Also, clinics that use its handpieces often look at its reprocessing equipment too, since handpiece care and sterilization are closely linked.
Tip: handpieces need cleaning and lubrication steps before sterilization; follow the handpiece manufacturer’s IFU exactly.
5. Zirc Dental Products
Zirc, based in Buffalo, Minnesota, makes instrument cassettes, tubs and organizational products. In addition, its range is useful for standardizing trays by procedure, which helps both infection control and chairside efficiency.
6. Young Innovations
Young Innovations, headquartered in Algonquin, Illinois, makes preventive, infection-control and hygiene products. Generally, it fits clinics that want hygiene-room consumables and infection-control items from one manufacturer.
7. Coltene
The Swiss Coltene group, based in Altstätten, makes consumables, endodontic products and infection-control products. Furthermore, its breadth makes it a good option for clinics that want to consolidate several product categories with one manufacturer.
8. Plasdent
Plasdent has made dental disposables and infection-control products since 1987. Disposables such as barriers and single-use items are high-volume purchases, so a focused maker can be worth comparing against distributor house brands.
9. Darby Dental Supply
Darby, based in Jericho, New York, is a long-established US distributor selling online and by phone, with full-line supplies and infection control among its focus areas. In practice, a distributor like Darby lets you combine infection-control consumables from several brands in one order.
10. Safco Dental Supply
Safco, based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, sells dental consumables mainly through its website and catalog, with infection control as a core focus. Moreover, it suits clinics that reorder the same disposables regularly and prefer catalog or online ordering.
Quick comparison
| Company | Headquarters | Type | Infection-control strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosstex International | Hauppauge, NY, USA | Manufacturer | Infection-control and sterilization products |
| Hu-Friedy | Chicago, IL, USA | Manufacturer | Instrument management systems |
| Midmark | Ohio, USA | Manufacturer | Equipment and sterilization products |
| W&H | Bürmoos, Austria | Manufacturer | Sterilizers, handpieces |
| Zirc Dental Products | Buffalo, MN, USA | Manufacturer | Cassettes, tubs, organization |
| Young Innovations | Algonquin, IL, USA | Manufacturer | Preventive, hygiene and infection-control products |
| Coltene | Altstätten, Switzerland | Manufacturer | Infection-control consumables |
| Plasdent | USA | Manufacturer | Disposables |
| Darby Dental Supply | Jericho, NY, USA | Distributor | Multi-brand consumables |
| Safco Dental Supply | Buffalo Grove, IL, USA | Online retailer | Multi-brand consumables by catalog and web |
How to choose infection control suppliers
Infection control is not a place to cut corners, but it is a place where smart purchasing pays off. Also, keep these points in mind:
- Start from your protocol. Map your instrument workflow from the operatory to the sterilization area and back. The CDC’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings are the US reference point, alongside your state and local requirements.
- Check compatibility. Pouches, wraps, indicators and cassettes must suit your sterilizer and cycle. Ask each supplier which cycles their products are validated for.
- Ask for the IFU. Every reusable instrument and device should come with reprocessing instructions. If a supplier cannot provide them, look elsewhere.
- Think about instrument handling. Cassettes and organized trays reduce handling of loose sharps. Our guide to surgical instrument cassettes and trays explains the benefits.
- Train the team. Even the best products fail if pre-cleaning is skipped. Review how to clean dental instruments immediately after use with new staff.
- Balance brands and distributors. Many clinics buy equipment and cassettes from manufacturers and reorder consumables through a distributor.
Frequently asked questions
Are these companies ranked?
No. In addition, they are notable companies with an infection-control focus, chosen for range, specialization and market presence and listed in no particular order.
Do instrument cassettes replace sterilization pouches?
Cassettes organize and protect instruments during cleaning and sterilization, but they still need to be wrapped or packaged as their manufacturer specifies. Follow the cassette and sterilizer IFUs.
How do I know a product suits my sterilizer?
Check the product’s IFU and labeling for validated cycles, and compare them with your sterilizer manufacturer’s instructions. When in doubt, ask both manufacturers.
Can stainless steel hand instruments be steam sterilized?
Surgical-grade stainless steel instruments are generally designed for steam sterilization, but always follow the manufacturer’s IFU, including cleaning, drying and lubrication steps for hinged instruments.
Organized trays make infection control easier. Aurix International builds pre-assembled and custom kits of surgical-grade stainless steel instruments, so each procedure has a complete, consistent set. Design a custom kit →
