Why doesn't the Dental Pod have a UV light? (2025)

Ultraviolet (or UV) light is a type of electromagnetic radiation, with a wavelength shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays. UV light is often used in hygiene applications due to its interaction with microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Its effectiveness depends on factors such as exposure, wavelength, and surface conditions.

Despite testing integrating UV with the Dental Pod's ultrasonic technology, here are the 3 reasons we chose not to include it:

#1 - Chemical sanitisation is significantly more effective than UV for oral appliances

Efficacy and safety are at the forefront of our thinking. The award-winning Dental Pod uses high-quality technology in line with research, to ensure that oral appliances are thoroughly and safely cleaned. Multiple studies have explored the use of ultrasonic cleaning combined with cleaning agents as part of oral appliance care routines. These approaches are commonly used to support the removal of buildup from dental materials. This finding was replicated during our testing of prototype Dental Pod models.

#2 - For UV to be effective for oral appliance users, a specific design is needed which is not suitable for ultrasonic cleaners

Bill Otto (Consulting Optical Physicist and Systems Engineer, 1977–present): "Many UV products claiming to have germicidal benefit are fake or poorly engineered so that the effectiveness is practically zero."

UV light is typically divided into three categories based on its wavelength: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-C is commonly used in certain applications due to its shorter wavelength and higher energy, which allows it to interact with exposed surfaces under controlled conditions.

For UV-C systems to operate as intended, specific technical parameters such as wavelength, energy output, and design configuration need to be carefully controlled.The designs of many ultrasonic + UV cleaners on the market do not fit that criteria. 

Our prototypes that included effective UV were very bulky and would have been significantly more expensive. The additional components needed to have effective UV would have led to a less effective ultrasonic effect, which has been shown by multiple studies to be the most effective cleaning method for oral appliances.

#3 - Our tablets have additional benefits over UV 

UV sanitisation has a number of limitations that were addressed in our Ultrasonic Boosting Tablet formulation. 

The degree of sanitisation achievable with UV light is largely about how exposed the microorganisms are to the light treatment. Since light cannot pass through non-clear or dirty oral appliances, the majority of microorganisms on your oral appliance won't be affected by UV. Our tablets dissolve in the water during the ultrasonic cleaning cycle, allowing the solution to reach across the surface of the appliance.

In addition, UV-based approaches may not address all aspects of appliance care, such as surface residue or odour. Our tablet formulation is designed to support the cleaning process while leaving appliances feeling fresh after use.

Our tablet formulation has been tested across a range of oral appliance types and materials as part of product development.