In August 2025, the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Fushan District, Yantai City, Shandong Province, ordered a local dental clinic to rectify its illegal activities and imposed administrative penalties, including the confiscation of expired medical devices and a monetary fine, for utilizing such equipment.

The Fushan District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, acting on a tip from higher authorities in August 2025, discovered that the clinic was employing various expired medical devices within its premises, including denture soft liner materials, glass ionomer for posterior tooth fillings, and root canal length measurement apparatus.

Following an investigation, it was confirmed that the clinic's actions breached the "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices," leading the bureau to issue administrative penalties in accordance with the law.

Medical devices, being specialized products critical to diagnostic and treatment safety, have usage standards that are directly linked to public health; employing expired equipment not only results in diminished performance and loss of diagnostic or therapeutic efficacy but also heightens the risk of cross-infection or secondary injuries due to material degradation and sterilization failure.

As frontline providers in primary care and high-frequency users of such equipment, the rigor of device management in dental clinics is fundamentally tied to patient safety during treatment.

Strictly prohibiting the use of outdated devices and reinforcing comprehensive oversight throughout the entire usage cycle are essential measures for upholding the foundational standards of basic medical care, eliminating the risks associated with device failure, and safeguarding the public's oral health.