Overview
EN ISO 15098:2024 - Dentistry: Dental tweezers (ISO 15098:2024) specifies general requirements and test methods for metallic dental tweezers of the Meriam and College types. Adopted by CEN in July 2024 and superseding the 2020 edition, the standard covers design, dimensional tolerances, material and hardness requirements, surface finish, mechanical performance (closing/opening forces) and resistance to reprocessing. It is not applicable to anatomical or surgical tweezers.
Key Topics
- Scope and classification
- Covers Meriam type (angulated shank, contra-angulated working end) and College type (straight shank with angled or curved working end).
- Excludes anatomical and surgical tweezers.
- Design & dimensions
- Defines detailed blade, shank and overall dimensions with tolerances (e.g., typical lengths ~150–162 mm, blade widths 1.0–1.6 mm, blade angles ~40–46°).
- Specifies measurement points and geometric tolerancing references.
- Materials & hardness
- Requires appropriate metallic materials for dental instruments (references ISO 21850-1 for stainless steel).
- Working-end hardness measured per ISO 6508-1 (Rockwell).
- Surface finish
- Requirements for all surfaces and optional satin finishes to ensure functional and hygienic properties.
- Functional performance
- Limits and test methods for closing and opening forces to ensure controlled grip and handling.
- Reprocessing resistance
- Tests and requirements for durability through repeated sterilization/processing cycles.
- Marking & documentation
- Requirements for marking on instruments, package labelling and instructions for processing and use (references ISO 15223-1 and ISO 17664-1).
Applications
EN ISO 15098:2024 is practical for:
- Manufacturers designing and producing dental tweezers to meet international quality and safety criteria.
- Quality control and test labs performing dimensional, mechanical and reprocessing tests.
- Procurement and specification writers in dental clinics and hospitals who require compliant instrument procurement.
- Regulatory bodies and conformity assessors checking device documentation and processing instructions.
- Sterile services departments validating reprocessing procedures for tweezers.
Compliance with this standard helps ensure functional performance, patient safety, traceability and longevity of dental tweezers used in clinical dentistry.
Related standards
Normative references and related documents include:
Keywords: EN ISO 15098:2024, dental tweezers, dentistry standard, Meriam type, College type, test methods, dental instrument requirements, stainless steel, reprocessing, closing force.