Periodontal Probes In The United Kingdom
Written by the Equate Instruments Technical Team · Reviewed by the Medical & Dental Board, Equate Instruments · Published ·
In the United Kingdom, Equate supplies 90 periodontal probes references directly to clinics, dental groups and distributors. WHO estimates that 10.6% of people aged 15 and over in the United Kingdom had severe periodontal disease in 2019 (WHO).
Key points
- In 2024, 73.2% of Primary 1 children examined in Scotland had no obvious decay experience, compared with 60.1% in the most deprived areas and 83.6% in the least deprived (Public Health Scotland).
Dentists in the United Kingdom at a glance
- Dentists on the GDC register at year end: 46,362 (2024) to 47,916 (2025)
- +3.4% since 2024
- Dentists on the GDC register at year end: 46,362 (2024) to 47,916 (2025)
- General Dental Council, 2025
- At the end of 2025, the General Dental Council register for the UK held 47,916 dentists, up 3.4% on the previous year (GDC).
- 47,916
- At the end of 2025, the General Dental Council register for the UK held 47,916 dentists, up 3.4% on the previous year (GDC).
- General Dental Council, 2025
- At the end of 2025, the UK's GDC register held 83,764 dental care professionals and 131,680 dental professionals in total (GDC).
- 131,680
- At the end of 2025, the UK's GDC register held 83,764 dental care professionals and 131,680 dental professionals in total (GDC).
- General Dental Council, 2025
- In 2025, 53% of dentists joining the UK's GDC register were internationally qualified, the first time they outnumbered UK-qualified joiners (GDC).
- 53
- In 2025, 53% of dentists joining the UK's GDC register were internationally qualified, the first time they outnumbered UK-qualified joiners (GDC).
- General Dental Council, 2025
- dental schools listed
- 16
- dental schools listed
- Equate research
- Untreated caries, age 5+30.6%
- Severe periodontal disease, 15+10.6%
- No natural teeth, 20+12%
The dark line marks the median of Equate's 22 markets. Source: WHO Oral Health Country Profiles 2022 (2019 estimates).
Which types of periodontal probes do clinics in the United Kingdom stock?
- Williams
- UNC-15
- CP-12 and CP-11
What are periodontal probes used for in the United Kingdom?
A periodontal probe is a slim, blunt-ended hand instrument with millimetre markings, used to measure the depth of the pocket between gum and tooth. See the full guide to periodontal Probes.
How should periodontal probes be cleaned and sterilised in the United Kingdom?
In Wales, WHTM 01-05, "Decontamination in primary care dental practices and community dental services" (Revision 1, February 2014), is published by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership – Facilities Services (NWSSP).
On the NHS in England, urgent dental treatment costs £27.90, and a course of treatment spanning several bands is charged at the highest band (NHS).
Popular Equate periodontal probes for the United Kingdom
All products
periodontal probes
Probe CP-2 and Explorer #6 - Double-Ended Diagnostic Instrument
EI-0206
periodontal probes
UNC Periodontal Probe CP 15 - Hollow Handle
EI-0040
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
periodontal probes
Expro 9 Explorer and CP-18 Probe Combination - 6 mm Solid Handle
EI-0205
What is the the United Kingdom market like for periodontal probes?
In 2024, 73.2% of Primary 1 children examined in Scotland had no obvious decay experience, compared with 60.1% in the most deprived areas and 83.6% in the least deprived (Public Health Scotland).
Public Health Wales reports that 32.4% of 5-year-old children in Wales have experienced tooth decay (Public Health Wales).
Where do dental students in the United Kingdom learn to use periodontal probes?
Students at Peninsula Dental School (University of Plymouth) and Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry and 14 other the United Kingdom dental schools train with periodontal probes in their clinical years.
What do dentists in the United Kingdom search for when buying periodontal probes?
In UK & Ireland, periodontal probes draw about 7,650 searches a month (Google Keyword Planner bands, October 2025 to September 2026). The most searched terms are "briault probe", "cpitn probe", "dental perio probe" and "dental probe".
Which periodontal probes does Equate supply to the United Kingdom?
How are periodontal probes regulated in the United Kingdom?
In Northern Ireland the EU MDR has applied since 26 May 2021 and CE marking is required, with a UKNI indication where a UK notified body performs the assessment (MHRA).
Why do practices in the United Kingdom buy periodontal probes from Equate?
- Samples are available, so a clinic in the United Kingdom can test an instrument before ordering in volume.
- Buyers in the United Kingdom deal with the manufacturer itself, choosing from 90 periodontal probes references.
Equate data
The Equate periodontal probes range for the United Kingdom
Catalogue explorer: 90 references
| Pattern | References | Figures | Handles | Coatings | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color-Coded Probes | 22 | — | hollow, knurled, silicone, solid | titanium-coated | EI-0039EI-0081 |
| Williams Probes | 14 | Fig. 17, Fig. 3, Fig. 16 | hollow, knurled, silicone, solid | — | EI-0112EI-0113 |
| WHO CPI Probes | 10 | — | hollow, silicone, solid | — | EI-0038EI-0115 |
| UNC Probes | 2 | — | hollow, silicone | — | EI-0040EI-1020 |
| Nabers Furcation Probes | 7 | — | hollow, slim, solid | — | EI-0131EI-0882 |
| Explorer-Probe Combinations | 32 | — | hollow, silicone, slim, solid | — | EI-0045EI-0046 |
| ExPro Probes | 3 | — | silicone, solid | — | EI-0024EI-0884 |
Starter kit for a new practice in the United Kingdom
- UNC-15 probe:UNC Periodontal Probe CP 15 - Hollow HandleEI-0040
- WHO probe:WHO CPI Probe CP 11.5 Ball-End - Hollow HandleEI-0038
- Furcation probe:Nabers Furcation Probe - Solid Handle 6mmEI-0131
What buyers search for
About 7,650 searches a month across 64 related terms.
- briault probe500
- cpitn probe500
- dental perio probe500
- dental probe500
- nabers probe500
- perio probe500
Your Regional Executive · UK & Ireland
Nader Chaudhry
Regional Executive, London, UK
Frequently asked questions
Can clinics in the United Kingdom buy periodontal probes directly from Equate?
Yes. Equate sells directly to clinics, dental groups and distributors in the United Kingdom. The Regional Executive for UK & Ireland handles quotes, samples and volume pricing.
What sterilisation rules apply to periodontal probes in the United Kingdom?
In England, Health Technical Memorandum 01-05, "Decontamination in primary care dental practices", covers the decontamination of reusable dental instruments; it was first published in 2009 and reissued as a second edition in 2013 (Department of Health).
References
- World Health Organization (2019)
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (2021)
- NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (2014)
- NHS (2025)
- Public Health Scotland (2024)
- Public Health Wales (2025)
- World Health Organization. Oral Health Surveys: Basic Methods, 5th edition. WHO, 2013 (the CPI probe)
- Ainamo J, Barmes D, Beagrie G, Cutress T, Martin J, Sardo-Infirri J. Development of the World Health Organization (WHO) Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). International Dental Journal 1982;32(3):281–291
- Caton JG, Armitage G, Berglundh T, et al. A new classification scheme for periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2018;45(Suppl 20):S1–S8
I am a… in the United Kingdom
