History
J&S Davis was founded in 1908 by brothers Joe and Solomon (Solly) Davis. It had stopped trading at the start of World War 1. After the war the Davis brothers and then their sons worked in other parts of the dental industry. After Solly’s death, his son John restarted J&S Davis.
This very little dental business came back to life in November 1953 in a Hampstead flat, initially distributing products from Dentatus and Keur and Sneltjes (now called Cavex). During the next forty years John was responsible for bringing to the UK market many products and ideas now thought of as everyday.
In 1958 one of the first turbine handpieces was launched at Alexander Palace Dental Exhibition – Sandri. Over the three days, over one thousand were sold.
The next, in 1964, was the most significant decision for the company and dentistry. It was the decision to set about converting the UK Profession to Disposables. The Solo needle was the first step; price and packaging had to be low enough to encourage the dentist to dispose of it after a single use. So a one million order was placed, with disbelieving laughter from the Trade. In the first year sales exceeded several million needles. Thus, Dental Disposables became an important part of the dental market. Solo Saliva Ejectors followed. Then in 1969 Solo Impression Trays were conceived and born, the Solo range was 10 (6 dentate and 4 edentulous). The numbering system eventually became the universal Impression Tray numbering system for plastic trays in UK and much of Europe.
Sterilisation had begun to stimulate J&S Davis interest. Water boilers were the normal method, yet research papers showed that there were several spores that would live despite hours of boiling. What was the alternative? The autoclave looked too expensive and complex. Thus, dry heat was the selected method and the Swedish Electrolux the selected product. Price had to be below £100. First factory order for 1,000 was placed and again laughter from the trade. “You might sell 4 a year”. However, 13,000 were sold over the next 10 years until the market was ready to move on to the Melag autoclave.
Another important development was the introduction of Clearfil Bond System F from Kuraray. This was launched in 1978 at a Park Lane Hotel, by the Japanese Professor Fusayama. This was world’s first dentine bonding system and was subsequently followed by Panavia the first resin cement in 1983. To this day (and beyond) Kuraray have continued to lead the field in bonding (Clearfil SE Bond) and adhesion (Panavia F). They have extended their expertise into composition with Clearfil Majesty.
L Porro Dental Company of London gave up the marketing of Ritter equipment and Davis pitched in to take it on. The decision was to market their total equipment programme, so that a full surgery of equipment - including cabinetry, was sold as a single item, which had never been done before in the UK!
Recognising that sterilising dirty instruments did not sterilise, L&R Ultrasonic baths were added to the portfolio.
As the company grew and prospered, it wanted to put back money and expertise into dentistry, so John Davis gathered a few enthusiastic dentists around him and the Cordent Trust charity was born in 1970 with John acting as Hon. Secretary for the first 27 years and Colin Davis, OBE, as first Chairman and John Forrest, the second. Since then they have organised nearly 250 projects, of all sorts of sizes and types. It is hard to select special ones since all are special in their individual way. Perhaps the Possum Project that equipped a mobile dental laboratory to use dental skills for the making of individual appliances to connect paralysed patients to a number of electronic aids was the most unusual. Many other unusual projects have been initiated including the Phelophepa Health Train in South Africa. In 2008 Cordent trust finally closed its doors, passing on the mantle to Dentaid and Bridge2Aid.
In 1982 the company acquired Claudius Ash from Dentsply. That company operated from Moon Lane in Barnet with offices in Waltham Cross. Four years later both companies moved to Potters Bar to shared premises.
In 1991 when the business was acquired by Planmeca, John Davis retired and his son Daniel assumed responsibility for J&S Davis. Before the end of the decade David Mason was appointed National Sales Manager.
J&S Davis assumed responsibility for Micro-Mega with their reputable ranges of handpieces and endodontic instruments. Burs and eventually Implantology from Hager and Meisinger followed.
The theme of being innovative continued. The likely growth of domiciliary work was recognised when Dentronic’s Minident was added to the range. Hygienists work was supported by the addition of LM Instruments. The importance of posture and ability to see all areas of the mouth led to sales of Keeler loupes. Developing the long connection with sterilisation and handpieces Nitram’s DAC Universal was launched.
J&S Davis will continue to source and supply products that add value to dental practice. It is justly proud of its 100 year history of supplying not the largest quantity but the highest quality.
