Dental Explorers In Latvia
Written by the Equate Instruments Technical Team · Reviewed by the Medical & Dental Board, Equate Instruments · Published ·
Clinics and distributors in Latvia can buy dental explorers directly from Equate, which lists 64 references. In 2019, an estimated 35.7% of people aged 5 and over in Latvia had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
Key points
- Dental explorers are class Ir devices under EU MDR 2017/745.
- In Latvia, the state pays for dental hygiene once a year for children aged 2 to 18, and orthodontic treatment for people with congenital cleft jaws is covered up to age 22 (National Health Service of Latvia).
Dentists in Latvia at a glance
- Practising dentists: 1,400 (2014) to 1,340 (2024)
- -4.3% since 2014
- Practising dentists: 1,400 (2014) to 1,340 (2024)
- Eurostat (dataset hlth_rs_prs2, Health personnel), 2024
- In 2019, Latvia had 1,361 dentists, or 7.1 per 10,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile, National Health Workforce Accounts).
- 7.1
- In 2019, Latvia had 1,361 dentists, or 7.1 per 10,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile, National Health Workforce Accounts).
- World Health Organization, 2019
- dental schools listed
- 1
- dental schools listed
- Equate research
- Untreated caries, age 5+35.7%
- Severe periodontal disease, 15+21.3%
- No natural teeth, 20+10.5%
The dark line marks the median of Equate's 22 markets. Source: WHO Oral Health Country Profiles 2022 (2019 estimates).
Which types of dental explorers do clinics in Latvia stock?
- 11/12 explorers
- Explorer-probe combinations
- Shepherd's hook
How are dental explorers regulated in Latvia?
In Latvia, as across the EU, reusable surgical instruments such as dental explorers fall under the Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745, as class I devices with extra requirements for reprocessing (class Ir).
Where do dental students in Latvia learn to use dental explorers?
Dental explorers are part of clinical training at Latvia's 1 dental school, including Rīga Stradiņš University, Faculty of Dentistry.
Popular Equate dental explorers for Latvia
All products
dental explorers
Explorer 11F-12F Flexible, Light Blue
EI-1180
dental explorers
Explorer 18-19 Blue
EI-1207
dental explorers
Explorer 9-17C - Light Blue Silicone Slim Handle
EI-1210
dental explorers
Dental Explorer Fig. 8A Extra Thin - Solid Handle 6mm
EI-1920
dental explorers
Explorer Fig. 17 Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-1925
dental explorers
Dental Explorer Fig. 8A - Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-1928
dental explorers
Explorer Fig. 9 Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-1929
dental explorers
Explorer 5 - Double-Ended Diagnostic Explorer
EI-0044
Which dental explorers does Equate supply to Latvia?
Local guides: Riga and Daugavpils.
How should dental explorers be cleaned and sterilised in Latvia?
In 2016, the Latvian Dental Association asked members to review their quality management systems by 1 July 2016 to comply with Cabinet Regulation No. 104 (Latvian Dental Association).
In Latvia, the state pays for dental hygiene once a year for children aged 2 to 18, and orthodontic treatment for people with congenital cleft jaws is covered up to age 22 (National Health Service of Latvia).
What is the Latvia market like for dental explorers?
In 2019, per capita expenditure on dental healthcare in Latvia was an estimated US$58 (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
Why do dentists in Latvia need dental explorers?
A dental explorer is a slender hand instrument with a fine, sharp, flexible tip that the clinician uses to feel the tooth surface. See the full guide to dental Explorers.
Why do practices in Latvia buy dental explorers from Equate?
- Built to one specification across the range: passivated stainless steel, ultrasonically cleaned, shape-, boil- and performance-tested and individually packed.
- A named Regional Executive for Baltics handles quotes, samples and volume pricing for private clinics and university dental clinics in Latvia.
Equate data
The Equate dental explorers range for Latvia
Catalogue explorer: 64 references
Starter kit for a new practice in Latvia
- Shepherd's hook:Shepherd's Hook Explorer No.23EI-0035
- Subgingival explorer:Explorer 11-12 BlueEI-1179
What buyers search for (all English-language markets Equate tracks)
About 9,900 searches a month across 18 related terms.
- dental explorer5,000
- dental explorer 11 12500
- dental explorer tool500
- endo explorer500
- endo explorer dental500
- explorer dental instrument500
Your Regional Executive · Baltics
Hassan Nazir
Regional Executive, Helsinki, Finland
Frequently asked questions
Can clinics in Latvia buy dental explorers directly from Equate?
Yes. Equate sells directly to clinics, dental groups and distributors in Latvia. The Regional Executive for Baltics handles quotes, samples and volume pricing.
References
- World Health Organization (2019)
- Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices, Article 52(7) and Annex VIII (2017)
- Latvian Dental Association (2016)
- National Health Service of Latvia (NVD) (2026)
- Gehrig JS, et al. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation & Advanced Root Instrumentation. Wolters Kluwer (instrument design and explorers)
- Ekstrand K, Qvist V, Thylstrup A. Light microscope study of the effect of probing in occlusal surfaces. Caries Research 1987;21(4):368–374
- Ismail AI, Sohn W, Tellez M, et al. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): an integrated system for measuring dental caries. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2007;35(3):170–178
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