The Best Two-Way Radios for Dental Offices
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your dental office, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for dental teams?
Room 3 has been prepped for over 10 minutes, but no one’s brought the patient in…
The hygienist in Room 2 needs assistance with a nervous child, but can’t leave her post…
The front desk is trying to confirm if the doctor can squeeze in a walk-in emergency before lunch…
These are all common issues in a dental office - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios.
Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your dental practice, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your office needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small offices, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger offices (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for dental offices:
- Front Desk Channel: Used by receptionists for patient check-ins, appointment updates, and coordinating with the clinical team about patient arrivals or cancellations.
- Clinical Staff Channel: Reserved for hygienists, dental assistants, and doctors to communicate about patient needs, room readiness, and procedure prep without interrupting front desk flow.
- Sterilization/Lab Channel: For the team managing instruments and lab work to request pickups, confirm deliveries, or notify when equipment is ready.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great dental office radio?
Clear Audio Quality: Radios should deliver crisp sound even with background noise from suction machines, sterilizers, or handpieces.
Compact & Lightweight Design: Look for radios that are easy to wear on a belt or under a lab coat without being bulky or intrusive.
Earpiece Compatibility: A discreet earpiece is a must for private communication—especially in front of patients—without disrupting the calm atmosphere.
Long Battery Life: Dental offices often run full-day schedules. A radio should last through the workday without needing a recharge.
Multiple Channels: Having multiple channels allows different departments (front desk, clinical, sterilization) to stay organized and avoid cross-talk.
Hands-Free Options (VOX): Some radios offer voice-activated transmission, letting staff communicate without pressing buttons—helpful during procedures
Durability & Hygiene: Choose radios that are built to withstand daily use and are easy to clean or sanitize between shifts.
Range That Covers Your Office: Make sure the radios provide strong, interference-free signal across the entire clinic—even through walls or lead-lined rooms.
Interference Elimination: These help avoid interference from nearby businesses using the same frequency, keeping communications private and reliable.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Dental Practices
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for practices of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Practices
For typical dentist layouts, you’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering modest power and 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.
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Lightweight, discreet, and hands-free with excellent audio clarity.
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The Motorola CLPe series has the distinction of being the smallest and lightest series on our list at only 2.38 ounces. The Motorola CLP1080e is the most advanced CLPe radio that we carry.
By advanced, we mean that this radio has eight channels to segment a mid-size staff.
It’s a UHF radio that works really well both indoors and outside with a 10 floor indoor range and one mile outdoors.
This series comes with a discreet earpiece and belt holster and fits perfectly on most uniforms.
The 1080e has a 12-hour battery life and is simple to use thanks to the large central PTT button.
Antimicrobial properties are included in the casing for disease control, so germs aren’t going to spread.
This device is also repeater capable in case you need to double its range.
If you want the Motorola CLP1080e for your dental office, reach out to the radio experts at Tech Wholesale for a free personalized quote.
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User-friendly with reliable coverage and extended battery life.
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Meet the Motorola CLS1410, a UHF Radio with 4 channels that would be right at home in an average sized dental office up to 200,000 sqft.
You can conserve a lot of power with this device as it only uses 1-watt of energy. You don't need more than that for your average dental office, so it's best to not overspend on features you don't need.
It has 15 floors of indoor range, which is more than enough for a dental office.
This radio features audible call alerts, which play a sound when a call is coming in. That ensures staff won't accidentally receive confidential information in front of other patients.
Unlike the CLP radios, the CLS series has a speaker, which is something that some staff members prefer. Several offices that we work with utilize a base station along with this radio, like the JBS447d. It can be kept in an office on the desk and programmed to work with both CLP and CLS radios.
If your dental office can benefit from the Motorola CLS1410, contact us for a free quote.
Larger Offices - Multiple Buildings
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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The Motorola Curve is another popular option among the dental offices we have served. That's because it is the most HIPAA compliant radio on the market.
This is a radio that will work well with a larger staff. It has 10 channels to choose from, making it ideal for a big dental office with multiple teams.
The Curve will also save you money in the long run. Because it operates on a digital band, you won't have to worry about paying any pesky FCC licensing fees.
While larger than the CLP series, this device is still lightweight at only 4.2 ounces. It covers up to 20 floors or 300,000 square feet of range.
When it comes to protecting confidential information, the Curve has you covered with Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology and 10,000 different privacy codes.
Another great and beneficial feature of this device is its Page All and Call All Available functions. This allows you to reach out to the entire staff at once, and it is ideal in an emergency.
On the other side of the coin, there is also a Direct Call feature that allows you to contact just one person with sensitive information.
This device is going to be able to handle even the longest shift with a 14-Hour battery life. That's all thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that it comes with.
This is another two-way radio that has an anti-microbial coating to curb the spread of bacteria.
Do you think that the Motorola Curve is right for your dental practice? Contact us today for a free personalized quote.
Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)
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Unlimited coverage through LTE or WiFi, eliminating traditional radio limitations.
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your practice – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!