Ever wonder who determines the performance requirements for amalgam separators? Curious about who decided the ring colours on the neck of your burs that indicate grain coarseness? Who figured out the safety limits for exposure to ultraviolet irradiance from dental operating lights? ISO/TC 106: Quality, Performance and Safety How international standards benefit Canadian dentistry The International Standards Organization’s technical committee on dentistry, ISO/TC 106 for short, has published 201 standards on terms and definitions; performance, safety and specification requirements of dental products; and clinically relevant test methods. On January 1, 2025, Dr. Benoit Soucy, CDA’s chief knowledge officer, became the new chair of ISO/TC 106 for a 3-year term. Dr. Soucy is the third Canadian to serve as ISO/TC 106 chair, following the paths forged by Dr. Dennis Smith and Dr. Derek Jones. ISO technical committees are run by a secretariat that is hosted by an ISO member country. In 2004, the Standard Council of Canada (SCC) became the host of the secretariat of ISO/TC 106. CDA manages the secretariat on behalf of the SCC. Since 2019, Katie Lee, manager and professional services administrator at CDA, has served as manager of the secretariat, facilitating the committee’s year-round work plus an annual in-person meeting, each of which is hosted by an ISO member country. How ISO standards impact Canadian dentists “The technical committees of ISO were given numbers to reflect the order of their creation. Therefore, ISO/TC 106 was the 106th to be established, back in 1962, and it has served dentistry extremely well over the years,” says Dr. Soucy. “Its standards make patient care better, safer and more affordable. As well, these standards make the lives of practising dentists in Canada easier.” He explains that ISO/TC 106 standards have supported the interoperability of equipment. Any dental bur can fit any handpiece of the right type, independent of manufacturer. Any handpiece of any manufacturer can be connected to any dental unit, if the tubing is compliant with the right standard. “Interoperability of equipment is very important for the practise of dentistry and helps to control costs,” Dr. Soucy says. ISO standards facilitate trade among countries. Compared to other countries, Dr. Benoit Soucy (l.), newly installed chair of ISO/TC 106 with Prof. Gottfried Schmalz (r.), outgoing chair. 15 Issue 2 | 2025 | News and Events
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