Dental Air Compressors are the heart of dental surgery which is why buying the right compressor and maintaining it well are so important.
At Anglian Dental we pride ourselves on offering you the best possible service and advice when it comes to looking after surgery equipment such as dental compressors, keeping your practice working at its best. Reliable, clean, and dry compressor air is the power behind nearly every dental procedure.
What Is Different About A Dental Compressor?
A dental compressor is oil-free and has dryers to dry the air before it goes into the receiver. The receiver has a coating to stop bacteria from growing, giving good quality, dry air. This is not only better for the patient but also much better for the longevity of the dental equipment and therefore minimises breakdowns and tool replacements. High-quality air also maximises the efficacy of modern dental composites. The European Pharmacopoeia Standard determines air quality for dental applications as follows:
- Oxygen 20.9 ± 0.5%
- Nitrogen 78.0% by inference
- Carbon dioxide <500 ppm v/v
- Carbon monoxide <5 ppm v/v
- Oil <0.1 mg/m3
- Water < 1032 vpm (DPt –20ºC at atm p)
- Particulate free from visible particles in a 75-litre sample (taken at 150 litres/min)
- Sulphur dioxide <1 ppm v/v
- Nitric oxide + nitrogen dioxide <2 ppm v/v
(Source NHS “Dental Compressed Air and Vacuum Systems“)
The choice of compressed air equipment, installation and servicing all have their impact on the air quality that comes into contact with patients.
Dental Compressor Noise Levels
Dental compressors are designed to run as near ‘silent’ as possible, typically 38dB(A) background noise level; essential for that calming, professional atmosphere where dentist/patient and staff-to-staff communication is vital. Standard workshop compressors are extremely noisy, which makes verbal communication difficult, and is a trigger for patient anxiety.
What Are The Mandatory Servicing Requirements For Dental Compressors?
Pressure vessel inspections (PVI’s) have to be carried out in accordance with your Written Scheme of Examination, which is a legal requirement. Further help and information on the safety of pressure vessel operation is available from the HSE.
For all of the compressors we supply, the manufacturer-recommended service intervals are annual, with bigger services after approximately 8000 hours of use or 3-4 years. More detailed guidance can be found in section 3 of the latest HTM-2022 guidelines for dental compressed air from the NHS.
How Can Anglian Dental Help?
All of the dental compressors we supply, including quality brands such as Durr, Cattani and Bambi, are oil-free and offer a 5-year warranty (subject to manufacturers’ terms and conditions). Wondering which air compressor to buy? Our experienced team can guide you through which is best for your surgery needs, and help you through the whole process of buying through to installation.
When selecting a new dental air compressor it is important to consider the size of the compressor that is needed, the acceptible noise level, what equipment it is being used with, servicing requirements, where it is going to be located, and value for money.
When it comes to your compressed air ‘written scheme of examination’, please get in touch as we can offer advice on where to get one.
Anglian Dental have a team of qualified dental engineers available to service your compressor. Simply give us a call at 01763 849990 and we’ll organise a convenient time to visit.
