Dental Instruments In Iceland
Written by the Equate Instruments Technical Team · Published ·
Dentists and distributors in Iceland can buy Equate dental instruments directly from the manufacturer, through the Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia. The Icelandic Dental Association (Tannlæknafélag Íslands) has 259 members, according to the FDI World Dental Federation.
Key points
- Medical devices in Iceland are overseen by Icelandic Medicines Agency (Lyfjastofnun).
- Equate sells direct to Iceland, with a named Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia.
Dentists in Iceland at a glance
- Practising dentists: 274 (2014) to 315 (2024)
- +15% since 2014
- Practising dentists: 274 (2014) to 315 (2024)
- Eurostat (dataset hlth_rs_prs2, Health personnel), 2024
- The Icelandic Dental Association (Tannlæknafélag Íslands) has 259 members, according to the FDI World Dental Federation.
- 259
- The Icelandic Dental Association (Tannlæknafélag Íslands) has 259 members, according to the FDI World Dental Federation.
- FDI World Dental Federation, 2026
- dental schools listed
- 1
- dental schools listed
- Equate research
- Untreated caries, age 5+40.5%
- Severe periodontal disease, 15+17.7%
- No natural teeth, 20+10.1%
The dark line marks the median of Equate's 22 markets. Source: WHO Oral Health Country Profiles 2022 (2019 estimates).
How many dentists are there in Iceland?
The number of practising dentists in Iceland rose 15%, from 274 in 2014 to 315 in 2024 (Eurostat (dataset hlth_rs_prs2, Health personnel)).
What is the state of oral health in Iceland?
In 2019, an estimated 40.5% of people aged 5 and over in Iceland had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2019, an estimated 29.2% of children aged 1 to 9 in Iceland had untreated caries of deciduous teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2019, an estimated 17.7% of people aged 15 and over in Iceland had severe periodontal disease (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2019, an estimated 10.1% of people aged 20 and over in Iceland had lost all their natural teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2020, the age-standardised incidence of lip and oral cavity cancer in Iceland was 1.8 per 100,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
Which organisations represent dentists in Iceland?
- Icelandic Dental Association (Tannlæknafélag Íslands) (association)
- Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands) (regulator)
- Icelandic Medicines Agency (Lyfjastofnun) (regulator)
Most-searched Equate instruments for Iceland
All products
extraction forceps
Children's Extraction Forceps - Upper Incisors 10cm (Fig. 137)
EI-0609
extraction forceps
Extracting Forceps Fig.86 Lower Molars Cow-Horn Beak
EI-0651
hand scalers
Nebraska 128 Anterior Sickle Scaler
EI-0254
hand scalers
Mini Sickle Scaler 11/12
EI-0248
dental elevators and luxators
Molt Periosteal Elevator 4mm/4mm 18.5cm Hollow Handle
EI-2293
dental elevators and luxators
Buser Periosteal Elevator 18 cm - Anatomical Hollow Handle 10 mm
EI-2687
periodontal probes
Periodontal Probe CP12/#23 - Solid Knurled Handle
EI-0081
periodontal probes
WHO CPI Periodontal Probe with Ball Tip - 6 mm Solid Handle
EI-0183
What do dentists in Iceland search for?
Search data for Iceland alone isn't published; these are the instrument searches across the English-language markets Equate tracks (Europe and North America), in Google Keyword Planner bands, October 2025 to September 2026.
| Instrument | Searches a month (band) | Most searched term |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Extraction Forceps | 50,350 | dental forceps |
| Dental Scalers (Hand Scalers) | 43,200 | dental scaler |
| Dental Elevators and Luxators | 40,550 | dental elevator |
| Periodontal Probes | 35,600 | dental perio probe |
| Restorative Dental Hand Instruments | 24,000 | acorn burnisher |
| Dental and Oral Surgery Retractors | 20,900 | cheek retractors |
How are teeth numbered in Iceland?
Dentists in Iceland use the FDI two-digit system set out in ISO 3950, where 11 is the upper right central incisor and 48 the lower right third molar.
What do national dental surveys show in Iceland?
- WHO Oral Health Country Profile (World Health Organization, 2022): In 2019, an estimated 40.5% of people aged 5 and over in Iceland had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
How is dental care organised and paid for in Iceland?
In Iceland, Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands) covers 100% of children's dental costs up to age 18 under the dental agreement, with an annual visit fee of ISK 3,500 (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands).
In Iceland, Icelandic Health Insurance covers 75% of general dental care costs for pensioners, including people aged 67 and over (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands).
In 2019, per capita expenditure on dental healthcare in Iceland was an estimated US$408 (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In Iceland, Icelandic Health Insurance covers 75% of dentist and dental technician costs for pensioners' dentures once every six years (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands).
In Iceland, long-term residents of hospitals, nursing homes or elderly care facilities who meet the criteria receive 100% coverage for general dental care (Sjúkratryggingar Íslands).
How are dental instruments regulated in Iceland?
In Iceland, Act on Medical Devices No. 132/2020 gives Regulation (EU) 2017/745, as adopted in the EEA Agreement, the force of law (Government of Iceland).
Under Act No. 132/2020, the Icelandic Medicines Agency is the competent authority in the sense of Article 101 of the MDR (Government of Iceland).
Iceland's Act No. 132/2020 divides medical devices into classes I, IIa, IIb and III according to Annex VIII of the EU regulations (Government of Iceland).
In Iceland, anyone who sells, owns or professionally uses medical devices must report serious adverse incidents to the Icelandic Medicines Agency (IMA).
The authority responsible for medical devices in Iceland is Icelandic Medicines Agency (Lyfjastofnun).
Where can you study dentistry in Iceland?
Dental degrees in Iceland are taught at 1 school, based in Reykjavík.
In Iceland, the University of Iceland's Faculty of Odontology offers a 180-ECTS BS and a 120-ECTS MS in odontology (University of Iceland).
| School | City | Founded | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Iceland, Faculty of Odontology | Reykjavík | BS and MS in Odontology |
What are the milestones in Iceland's dental history?
- Dentistry teaching began at the University of Iceland, founded in 1911, during the Second World War, alongside engineering and business administration (University of Iceland).
Which dental instruments does Equate supply to Iceland?
Equate's instrument guides for Iceland cover dental curettes, dental elevators and luxators, dental explorers, extraction forceps, mouth mirrors, surgical retractors, hand scalers, periodontal probes, restorative hand instruments, spoon excavators and tooth extraction instruments.
Why do dental practices in Iceland work with Equate?
- Buyers in Iceland deal with the manufacturer itself, choosing from 3,375 instrument references.
- Each reference is passivated stainless steel, ultrasonically cleaned, shape-, boil- and performance-tested and individually packed, whatever the pattern.
- A named Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia handles quotes, samples and volume pricing for public dental services and private clinics and university clinics in Iceland.
- Samples are available, so a clinic in Iceland can test an instrument before ordering in volume.
Social listening
What dental professionals and students across Nordics & Scandinavia discuss online
Workload and practice pressure
CriticalAssistants describe tightly packed schedules, with constant restocking and fetching of instruments and little time for breaks. Dentists contrast public care, which is more stressful and lower paid, with owner-run private practice, which brings more control and higher earnings.
- Hammashoitajan työ on syvältä· Suomi24, 2022
- Tandläkare svarar på frågor om yrket· Flashback Forum, 2019
Public trust in instrument sterilisation
CriticalIn Finnish and Swedish public forums, people ask how they can tell whether a clinic's instruments are really clean. Regulator cases where rusty or badly sterilised instruments were found, or an autoclave ran too cool, are discussed with alarm. Some posters say inspections catch these problems.
- Hammaslääkärin työkalut· Suomi24, 2005
- Tandläkarklinik använde rostiga verktyg.· Flashback Forum, 2019
- Hammaslääkäri menetti lupansa, kuka?· Suomi24, 2010
Who reprocesses instruments, and with what training
MixedIn private practice, dental assistants usually run the washer-disinfector and autoclave and oil the handpieces as part of their wider job. Some posters argue that this staff gets only a few weeks of reprocessing training. They also claim that single-use items are sometimes reprocessed to save money, and other posters dispute this.
- Hammashoitaja· Suomi24, 2007
- Välinehuoltajilla EI ammattinimikesuojaa!· Suomi24, 2016
Equate's summary of public threads on Flashback Forum, Suomi24, read 2026-10-27. No posters are named and brand names are left out; thread links are listed in the page's data file.
Equate data
Iceland in Equate's market data
Iceland ranks 8 of 22 in the Equate Dental Market Index 2026, with a score of 76 out of 100. See the full index
“have noticed very little that their patients are going to other countries”
Your Regional Executive · Nordics & Scandinavia
Hassan Nazir
Regional Executive, Helsinki, Finland
Frequently asked questions
Is children's dental care free in Iceland?
Icelandic Health Insurance covers 100% of children's dental costs up to age 18 under the dental agreement. An annual visit fee of ISK 3,500 applies, and children should be registered with a family dentist.
Where can you study dentistry in Iceland?
Dentistry is taught at the University of Iceland's Faculty of Odontology in Reykjavík. It offers a 180-ECTS BS and a 120-ECTS MS in odontology.
What support do older people get for dental care in Iceland?
Icelandic Health Insurance covers 75% of general dental care costs for pensioners, including people aged 67 and over.
How common is tooth decay in Iceland?
WHO estimated that 40.5% of people aged 5 and over in Iceland had untreated caries of permanent teeth in 2019. About 10.1% of adults aged 20 and over had no natural teeth.
How much does Iceland spend on dental care?
WHO estimated per capita expenditure on dental healthcare in Iceland at US$408 in 2019.
References
I am a… in Iceland
