Modern dentistry and laboratory work has extensively progressed with the influence of clinicians across the globe. The advent of the internet welcomed an entirely new age of connection, with dental laboratory technicians able to discuss new techniques or solutions from continents away, at the touch of a button.
However, there is still an importance to be placed on investing in solutions from home, especially for dental technicians based in the UK. Buying British offers a number of advantages to the laboratory and British companies – you just need to know where to look.
It’s important for dental laboratories to understand the advantages of buying British, and use this knowledge to make changes to their workflows.
Quality to rely upon
Manufacturers of dental laboratory equipment and solutions based in Britain have a wide array of trading standards that must be met, ensuring technicians know that their investments are high-quality.
Many items manufactured for sale in Britain require UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) or the European Conformity (CE) markings. The former has been operational in the UK since 1st January 2021, and was part of the movement away from European Union harmonised standards.[i] This is an easy way to identify solutions that are judged to be safe to use, and British manufacturers will strive to meet these standards first and foremost. For ‘medical devices’, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is also in charge of assessments.[ii]
British-made products are held to a range of other standards dependent on the item type. The British Standards Institute (BSI) has a library of these that are accessible for UK businesses.[iii] One such example is BS EN ISO 14356:2024, which is the BSI Standards for duplicating material in dentistry.[iv] It details testing methods, requirements for material characteristics and properties, and assessments that will look at the detail of a reproduction or the compatibility with gypsum. Dental technicians know that British manufacturers that comply with these standards are providing a high-quality product that can support an everyday workflow.
Technicians can find trusted British businesses by looking out for the Made in Britain logo. It is used by manufacturers working with the not-for-profit organisation as a collective trademark.
A worldwide benefit
Environmentally-friendly dentistry is an aspect of dental laboratory workflows that has grown in attention in recent years. It can seem difficult to take steps to reduce a carbon footprint at times, but buying from local product manufacturers is one simple change that can make a large difference.
Approximately 22% of global CO2 emissions can be attributed to goods that are exported across country borders.[v] In the UK, greenhouse gas emissions related to imports in 2021 were 45% higher than those in 1996.[vi]
When dental laboratories choose British sources for their everyday solutions, they are able to consciously reduce their involvement with the import of items across continents, which otherwise creates extreme environmental strain. Alongside this, they can look for dental solutions that are created to be environmentally friendly, joining the 21% of Britons who are willing to spend slightly more on sustainable products in everyday life, and 17% of the population who go green but are heavily influenced by product pricing.[vii]
Invest in Brits
Invest in BritsBuying British is also an effective way to help local economies. The money spent on new products helps to keep people based in Britain employed, supporting their daily lives and giving them the opportunity to reinvest into local economies once more. British manufacturers employ thousands of people, and further investment means they can open up job opportunities for many more. This supports the development of British dentistry over time – more people creating new products results in greater opportunities to improve laboratory workflows, and in turn restorations for the patients they support.
The cost of transporting items may also be more affordable for many dental laboratories, as there is no longer the need to fly in products from across the globe. This means laboratories can further invest in their workflows to improve output.
Recognising British sources of dental laboratory solutions is vital, and one such example is Kemdent, who have over a century of experience supporting dental professionals across the UK. Choose from high-quality solutions such as PumiceSafe, the universal lab cleaner, or the Acron Hi acrylic, a true high impact strength material which is ideal for durable denture production. Kemdent items are proudly labelled with the Made in Britain emblem, a sign of their commitment to creating high-quality dental materials and products, alongside providing unrivalled customer service.
Buying British products for the dental laboratory is an exceptional opportunity to support local businesses, but also a chance to improve the items within the dental laboratory with well-tested solutions. Technicians should consider the options available to them – they may find support just a stone’s throw away.
For more information about the leading solutions available from Kemdent, please visit www.kemdent.co.uk or call 01793 770 256
Author Alistair Mayoh
[i] Department for Business and Trade, (2024). Using the UKCA marking. GOV.UK, (Online). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking [Accessed February 2025]
[ii] Mediciens and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, (2025). Regulating medical devices in the UK. GOV.UK, (Online). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regulating-medical-devices-in-the-uk [Accessed February 2025]
[iii] Office for Product Safety and Standards, (2024). Product safety law: advice for manufacturers and importers. GOV.UK, (Online). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-law-compliance-advice-for-manufacturers-and-importers
[iv] BSI, (2024). BSI Standards Publication, Dentistry – Duplicating material. (Online) Available at: https://middleware.accord.bsigroup.com/pdf-preview?path=Preview%2F000000000030502677.pdf&inline=true&_gl=1*9ih7ka*_ga*ODcxNTk0NjE4LjE3NDA0NzY2OTM.*_ga_RWDQ3VY9NQ*MTc0MDQ3NjY5Mi4xLjEuMTc0MDQ3Njc4My4wLjAuMTI5MzkxNzc5OQ..*_gcl_au*MTM0OTkyMjYyMy4xNzQwNDc2Njk0 [Accessed February 2025]
[v] Hausfather, Z., (2017). Mapped: The world’s largest CO2 importers and exporters. Carbon Brief. (Online) Available at: https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-worlds-largest-co2-importers-exporters/ [Accessed February 2025]
[vi] Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (2024). Official Statistics, Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021. GOV.UK, (Online) Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-carbon-footprint/carbon-footprint-for-the-uk-and-england-to-2019 [Accessed February 2025]
[vii] Fernandes, J., (2024). British attitudes towards sustainability in 2024: key insights from YouGov data. YouGov, (Online). Available at: https://business.yougov.com/content/49572-british-attitudes-towards-sustainability-on-world-environment-day-2024 [Accessed February 2025]
