Hanham Dental was founded by John Hunter, a Dental Technician from Bristol Dental Hospital
History
Hanham Dental Laboratory has been a family run business for 50 years, founded by John Hunter.
Hanham Dental Laboratory has been a family-run business for over 50 years. At the tender age of 16, HDL founder John Hunter became an apprentice in dental mechanics at the Bristol Dental Hospital. Thinking he’d be making dental equipment, he was surprised to find himself involved in the nascent dental technology industry, becoming highly skilled in crafting the latest appliances which have now – decades later – become common place.
By the early 60s, John had the option of continuing at BDH, with the tempting offer at the top level of £20 a week (!), or going it alone and starting his own business. He chose the latter. While honing his business expertise, John also worked for a local dentist, making the patients’ appliances independently for three years.
From humble beginnings in two terraced houses on Cloud Hill Road, Hanham Dental Laboratory has since grown into a multi-faceted, full service enterprise. After three decades of successful growth, HDL had established itself as a specialist in pressure and vacuum formed appliances, moving into an all-purpose, high-tech laboratory in 2004.
Since then, our laboratory has been at the cutting edge of the dental industry, utilising new techniques and materials in the development of the state-of-the-art appliances, such as the new OrthoApnea mandibular advancement device.
In each decade of service, quality has been at the heart of HDL’s ethos. In 2005, our laboratory was accredited by DAMAS, a quality management system designed specifically for the manufactures of custom made medical devices. HDL is also a member of the Dental Laboratories Association and therefore abides by the DLA code of practice.
Rachel joined the lab in 1998 working temporarily until she could become a personal trainer. In 2005 she qualified from University Of Wales, Institute Cardiff and took over the business along with her husband Francis in 2015.
1968
1990's
HDL started off as a full service laboratory, a status which it maintained for the next few decades, before establishing itself as a specialist in pressure and vacuum formed appliances in the early 1990's.
1998
Rachel started
2004
Francis qualified and started at HDL
2005
Rachel qualified.
HDL was accredited by DAMAS, a quality management system designed specifically for the manufacturers of custom made medical devices.
2005
2008
HDL Study Forum was launched, in which it hosts seminars targeting a wide range of topics aimed at providing a source of CPDs to all Dental Professionals.
HDL turned digital with the addition of the latest in house 3D scanner and printer allowing for the production of the HDL Aligner system and Plaster-less Models.
2011
2014
The addition of a second in-house 3D printer in 2014 ensures HDL remains at the forefront of the Dental Industry.
2015
Rachel & Francis took over the business
