Identifying counterfeit and non-compliant dental devices
There are a number of possible questions the dentist can consider to help identify equipment which is suspected as fake or substandard:
- Did you pay a price that was drastically out of line with the normal price for the product?;
- Did you buy it through an internet dealer or supplier that you didn’t know?;
- Compare it with a similar product you know to be genuine;
- Check the weight – copies made with cheap alloy are often much lighter;
- Finish – there may be rough edges or poor-quality laser etching;
- Check the company and product name and logo – are they exactly as they should be? Copies may have small but important differences, or even mistakes;
- Is the colour and design of the packaging exactly like the genuine product?;
- In use – some substandard hand instruments have bent or even broken when put under some pressure;
- The charging/power plug – it must be supplied with a NZ plug, not a Chinese or European plus with adapter – otherwise it is non-compliant;
- Look at the CE mark – there usually is one, but can you be sure it is genuine, or even the correct one?;
- The paperwork – if it is in a huge number of languages, including Chinese, this can be a clue that it is a copy. Devices will also generally need instructions in English;
- If in doubt, contact the manufacturer. Genuine products can be tracked back through the chair of supply to confirm their authenticity.
Device Type | Potential Problem/Faults | Potential Risk |
Handpiece | Excessive vibration Bearing failure Turbine failure Disintegration | Ineffective in use Patient injury User injury |
Curing light | Incorrect light emission Incorrect timer Dangerous charger | Electric shock (charger) Ineffective curing |
Bur | Failure in use Ineffective action Breaking in the mouth | Ineffective in sue Patient injury – swallowing or inhaling fragments User injury |
Endodontic file | Failure in use Ineffective action | Ineffective in use Patient injury User injury |
X-ray devices | Exposure to radiation Ineffective action Faulty electrical system | Ineffective in use Patient injury User injury Danger of electric shock Exposure to radiation |
Table 1. Table summarizing potential risks form counterfeit and non-compliant dental devices. (Source: BDIA, Dental Update, May 2016, Vol 43, No.4 |
Please report any counterfeit or sub-standard product to Medsafe www.medsafe.govt.nz