November 06, 2026
Reusable vs. Disposable Bite Blocks: What They Really Cost a Practice Over Five Years
By Common Sense Dental
Disposable bite blocks look cheap. At 50 cents to a dollar each, nobody thinks twice about tossing one after a patient. But bite blocks get used on a lot of patients, and small costs repeated every day become real money over a few years.
Here's how the numbers actually compare, plus the costs that never show up on an invoice.
What disposable bite blocks cost
Disposable foam props typically run about $0.50 to $1 per patient. The real cost depends on how often your practice reaches for one.
The table below assumes a 4-day week and 48 working weeks a year. Plug in your own numbers if your schedule looks different.
| Bite block uses per day | Uses per year | Cost per year | Cost over 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 384 | $192 to $384 | $960 to $1,920 |
| 5 | 960 | $480 to $960 | $2,400 to $4,800 |
| 10 | 1,920 | $960 to $1,920 | $4,800 to $9,600 |
Even a light-use practice spends hundreds of dollars a year on something that goes straight in the trash.
What a reusable bite block costs
A reusable bite block like LogiBloc® costs $25. A set of four, one in each size, is $100.
With proper care, a quality reusable block lasts for years. LogiBloc's medical-grade silicone overmold is built to handle hundreds of steam autoclave cycles. But let's be conservative. Even if you replaced the whole set every single year, five years would cost $500.
Compare that to $2,400 to $4,800 for disposables at five uses a day. Busy practices running several operatories may want more than one set, and the math still favors reusable by a wide margin.
Sterilizing a reusable bite block
The main tradeoff with reusable blocks is reprocessing. Here's what that looks like for LogiBloc:
- Wash the block free of debris.
- Steam autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes or 134°C for 3 minutes.
- Never use dry heat.
The blocks go through the same steam cycles your instruments already run, so most practices simply add them to existing loads. Always follow your practice's infection control protocol and the manufacturer's instructions for use.
The costs that don't show up on the invoice
Price per unit isn't the whole story. A few other things are worth weighing:
- Access and visibility. Many bite blocks hold the mouth open but sit right in the working area. LogiBloc uses a concave design that stabilizes the arch without blocking your view or your instruments.
- Patient comfort. A soft silicone overmold is gentler than hard plastic and less bulky than foam.
- Waste. A single-use prop for every patient means thousands of pieces in the landfill over a few years.
- Stock running out. Disposables are one more thing to reorder. A reusable set is just there.
- Safety features. LogiBloc includes a floss tether hole for aspiration prevention, and the +Suction version holds a standard saliva ejector hands free.
When disposables still make sense
Reusable isn't automatically right for everyone. Disposables can make sense if your practice rarely uses a bite block, doesn't have the reprocessing capacity, or follows a protocol that calls for single-use props in certain cases. For most general practices using a bite block every day, though, reusable wins on cost.
How many reusable bite blocks does a practice need?
Start with how many bite block procedures run at the same time, then add enough blocks to cover the ones in the sterilizer. A set of all four sizes per operatory is a simple starting point:
- Standard (green): the everyday choice for most adult patients
- Pedo (purple): pediatric patients and smaller adults
- X-Small (yellow): restricted openings and the smallest patients
- Large (blue): maximum opening for larger adult patients
FAQ
Can bite blocks be autoclaved?
It depends on the material. Foam props are single use. LogiBloc is steam autoclavable at 121°C for 15 minutes or 134°C for 3 minutes. Never use dry heat.
Are reusable bite blocks latex-free?
Many are, but check the label. LogiBloc is latex-free.
Do reusable bite blocks work with suction?
Some do. The LogiBloc +Suction version has clips that hold any standard disposable saliva ejector, in Pedo and Standard sizes.
The bottom line
Disposable bite blocks cost very little per patient, and a lot per year. If your practice uses one daily, a reusable set can pay for itself within months and keep saving for years.
Through November 30: buy any 3 LogiBloc and get the 4th free. Stock every operatory before the new year.