A Compact, Sleek Autoclave That’s Fast and Strong

They’ve been called one of dentistry’s biggest unsung heroes. An indispensable component of every dental workflow, autoclaves tend to stay tucked in the background, quietly working to ensure dental instruments and equipment are safely sterilized and secure for both patients and staff. Many times, patients might not even notice instruments being autoclaved, a fact that’s largely due to practices’ preferences for machines that sterilize quickly, efficiently, and quietly.

Brockton Willey, DDS, has witnessed those attributes firsthand and it’s why he refers to himself as a “proud owner” of the Enbio S, a Swiss-designed Class B triple vacuum autoclave that brings efficiency and ease of use to his practice’s sterilization process. For Dr. Willey, it’s first and foremost all about maintaining a safe and efficient workflow.

“I opened my practice in 2023 with 2 operatories, 1 hygienist, and 1 front desk staff member,” said Dr. Willey, who owns The Dental House in Grand Rapids, MI. “Since then, we have grown to 6 operatories and 6 employees! This growth has forced us to explore our options for keeping up with our sterilization needs. The Enbio S met that task and has exceeded our expectations.”

7-Minute Cycle

Offering up to 4 times faster cycle times than typical autoclaves, the Enbio S is an air removal (pre- and post-vacuum) sterilization solution that features an efficient 15-minute cycle, including drying time, for wrapped instruments at 134º C. The Enbio S also includes a 45-minute cycle for wrapped instruments at 121º C.

Additionally, and in the case of unforeseen emergencies, clinicians can choose a rapid 7-minute cycle for unwrapped instruments at 134º C. “The fast sterilizing cycle means we are never caught in an awkward position with our patients and their needs,” Dr. Willey shared.

Small Footprint, Easy Operation

Both installation and operation are fast and easy—all that’s needed is a standard electrical outlet. The autoclave uses distilled water from an external tank. The Enbio S also includes dedicated software for process data reading and printing and automatically records the data onto a USB disk. Packaged with a sleek, modern design, along with a white color to match any practice décor, the Enbio S differs from many other autoclaves due to its uniquely small footprint. According to Enbio, at just 22 x 9.8 x 6.3 inches, the Enbio S is 6 times smaller and 3 times lighter than typical Class B vacuum autoclaves.

“The sleek and modern design minimizes the footprint needed that other units require,” Dr. Willey added.

Shhh! Inaudibly Silent Operation

The Enbio S is also a quiet machine, operating at a nearly silent noise level, which can go a long way toward elevating both patient and dental staff comfort. The unit can serve as a practice’s main sterilization equipment or as a way to solve the inevitable: a sudden, unplanned backlog of patients that require safe instruments very quickly. Additionally, the Enbio S is perfect for quickly autoclaving smaller items, when tools are “locked” in other autoclaves during processing, or if tools are accidentally dropped or contaminated during treatment. The autoclave includes a convenient 11 x 7 x 1.3-inch tray that fits a load of both small instruments and handpieces.

Drawing upon over 30 years of biotechnology and industrial hydroponics experience, Enbio has sold more than 50,000 autoclaves over the last 6 years. “I would recommend Enbio to any growing practice,” Dr. Willey added. “We have plans to implement another unit into our practice very soon.”