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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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A dappen dish is a small, shallow concave vessel used to mix dental materials chairside. It comes in two regulatory-recognized forms: a single-use dish made of thermoplastic, and a reusable dish made of glass or metal. Who uses it: dental clinic staff who dispense and mix materials, and the buyers and students who need to tell the two types apart.
What a dappen dish is
The Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) term “Dappen dish, single-use” (45120), as recorded in the FDA/NLM AccessGUDID database, defines it as a small, shallow concave vessel used to mix dental materials chairside before they are applied to the patient during dental procedures. Its purpose is simple: a place to hold and combine the components of a dental material.
How it is built and used
The single-use dish is made of a thermoplastic material. The reusable dish (GMDN term 45119, “Dappen dish, reusable”) is a hand-held vessel made of glass or metal. Both GMDN definitions describe the materials being mixed by hand in the dish, for example with a spatula.
The AccessGUDID descriptions list the most common uses as prophy and fluoride treatments and for mixing composite materials, acrylics, cements and amalgams.
Types: single-use vs reusable
| Type | GMDN term | Material (per definition) | Reuse status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-use dappen dish | 45120 | Thermoplastic | Single-use device; supplied non-sterile; no sterilization required before use | AccessGUDID record D7739501017021 |
| Reusable dappen dish | 45119 | Glass or metal | Reusable device; supplied non-sterile | AccessGUDID record 10889950040796 |
Both records state “No Device Sizes” and “Device Exempt from Premarket Submission: Yes”, so no sourced sizes or capacities are listed here.
How to choose between single-use and reusable
The one decision rule that the CDC states for dental settings is about reprocessing. CDC defines single-use (disposable) devices as intended for use on one patient during a single procedure, and says that if a device does not have reprocessing instructions, regardless of labeling, it should be considered single-use. In practice that means:
- A dish that comes with manufacturer reprocessing instructions is a reusable device, and those instructions govern how it is cleaned and prepared for the next patient.
- A dish without reprocessing instructions is treated as single-use, whatever its material.
For how reusable devices are reprocessed in general, see our guide to medical device reprocessing, and for the same trade-off in another instrument class see autoclavable vs single-use surgical instruments.
Safe use and handling basics
- CDC: use single-use devices for one patient only, then dispose of them appropriately after one use.
- CDC: most single-use devices used in dental settings can be discarded with the regular trash. Items such as gauze saturated with blood or saliva, and contaminated sharps, are regulated medical waste under federal, state and local rules. Our guide to regulated medical waste explains that category.
- For the infection-control role that oversees these practices in larger facilities, see infection preventionist.
Common mistakes
- Reusing a single-use plastic dish for a second patient. CDC says single-use devices are for one patient and one procedure.
- Assuming a dish is reusable because no label says “single-use”. By CDC’s rule, no reprocessing instructions means treat it as single-use.
- Confusing it with other cup-shaped dental items. The AccessGUDID record for a prophylaxis cup carries a different FDA product code (EHK, “CUP, PROPHYLAXIS”) from the dappen dish nomenclature term.
FAQ
What is a dappen dish used for?
Mixing dental materials chairside before application. AccessGUDID names prophy and fluoride treatments and the mixing of composites, acrylics, cements and amalgams.
Is a dappen dish reusable?
It depends on the product. GMDN lists both a single-use thermoplastic dish and a reusable glass or metal dish. Follow the manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions; with none, CDC says to consider the dish single-use.
What is a dappen dish made of?
Thermoplastic for the single-use type; glass or metal for the reusable type, per the GMDN definitions.
Does a dappen dish come sterile?
The AccessGUDID records for both types list the device as not packaged sterile, and the single-use record states it does not require sterilization before use.
Where does a dappen dish go after use?
CDC says most single-use dental devices can go in the regular trash, unless contaminated in a way that makes them regulated medical waste, such as blood-saturated items or sharps. For wider supply planning in a dental practice, see the dental office supply checklist.
Sources
- FDA/NLM AccessGUDID, device record D7739501017021 (GMDN 45120, Dappen dish, single-use): https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/D7739501017021, checked 2026-10-31.
- FDA/NLM AccessGUDID, device record 10889950040796 (GMDN 45119, Dappen dish, reusable): https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/10889950040796, checked 2026-10-31.
- CDC, Dental Infection Prevention and Control FAQs: Single-Use Devices (page dated May 15, 2024): https://cdc.gov/dental-infection-control/hcp/dental-ipc-faqs/single-use-devices.html, checked 2026-10-31.
