Almost 80 years of lege artis

The long-established company near Stuttgart has been manufacturing state-of-the-art quality products for endodontics, prophylaxis and prosthetics since 1947. Find out more about our standards, passion and history here.

"With the ADKV sponsoring membership, we want to make a contribution to inspiring people for art and culture."

"Art" in the name obliges: lege artis supports art associations

lege artis literally means ‘according to the rules of the art’. This is also the credo of the manufacturer lege artis Pharma from Dettenhausen, which specializes in dental and oral health. The long-established company near Stuttgart has been manufacturing quality products for endodontics, prophylaxis and prosthetics “state of the art” since 1947. Recently, lege artis became a supporting member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Kunstvereine (ADKV):

“With our supporting membership of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Kunstvereine e.V. (ADKV), we want to actively inspire people for art and culture,” explains owner Dr. Brigitte Bartelt. This would also have been very much in her father’s spirit, the 64-year-old third-generation owner enthuses: “My father loved art”.

In addition, the concept of art, which her grandfather and the company founder lege artis put into the company name, would be a commitment. In 2027, the family business celebrates its 80th anniversary “according to the rules of art”.

The ADKV umbrella and professional association unites around 300 non-commercial art associations throughout Germany, in which over 100,000 interested citizens are involved, and is dedicated to the presentation and promotion of contemporary art. Founded in 1980, the ADKV sees itself as a mediator between art, politics, the media and the institution of the Kunstverein, which is supported by civic commitment.

"My father loved art"

"We are not only responsible for what we do, but also for what we do not do." (Molière)

Our environmental promise

lege artis has been manufacturing dental products for over 75 years – not only gentle and helpful for oral and dental health, but also gentle on the environment. Because we don’t just focus on patients and dentists, but also on everything around them – the environment.

For us, sustainability means living in harmony with nature and protecting plants, animals, water, air and our planet. In our understanding, nature does not start at the green city limits, but encompasses the whole (surrounding) world, starting in the big cities of this earth.

We know that we cannot change the world on our own, but we are aware of our responsibility. We see it as our duty to make our contribution to environmental protection, according to the motto:

“Plans to protect the air and water, the wilderness and nature, are also plans to protect people.” (Stewart Udall)

Use of solar power through Photovoltaic system on the company building

“Use what you have” is one of the principles on which our successful 75-year company history is based. As a specialist in dental pharmaceuticals, medical products and cosmetics, we use resources carefully and responsibly and also pay attention to our ecological footprint. For example, we use the free space on the company building to generate solar power.

Since 2012, 287 solar panels on the flat roof have generated an annual average of 650,000 kWh of green electricity. We use part of the energy for our electric vehicle fleet.

In total, over 455 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were avoided as a result.

How much is one ton of CO₂?

  • One tonne of CO₂ is equivalent to driving 4,900 km with a mid-range petrol engine
  • To absorb one ton of CO₂, a beech tree has to grow for around 80 years.

455 tons of CO₂ have already been avoided by lege artis (2012-2021) – how many trees is that the equivalent of?

  • Approximately 20,400 trees

"In future, we also want to install solar cells in renovations or new buildings where this makes sense and is possible in order to become even more climate-friendly."

Our e-fleet

We are convinced of the energy transition and are fully committed to sustainable energy. This is also reflected in our vehicle fleet:

Currently, around a third of our company vehicles are already electrified. At the end of 2021, we started the switch to all-electric vehicles. Our declared aim is for every car in our vehicle pool to be electrically powered by 2023 at the latest. At the lege artis company headquarters, we charge the solar power that we produce ourselves on the roof of our company building.

Our vehicle fleet is to be fully electrified by 2023

Eco-wash (external)

We are also environmentally conscious when it comes to car washing. Where possible, we wash our cars in the world’s most unique and sustainable self-service car wash. This world first is located in the immediate vicinity and is climate-neutral:

  • Rainwater instead of precious drinking water
  • Green electricity from your own roof heats water
  • Biodegradable cleaning agents
  • Own biological wastewater treatment plant

Kärcher Clean Park Eco in Dettenhausen (Photo: lege artis)

Company founder - Johann Pfandl

When the company founder Johann Pfandl established lege artis Dentalhandelsgesellschaft in Austria in 1947, he could already look back on more than 15 years of experience in the dental and general medical sector.
With great energy, creativity and diligence, he developed the first range of medicinal specialities for dental use, including the well-known TOXAVIT, the world’s first and still successful devitalizing agent.

Mag. pharm. Kurt Pfandl

After relocating the company headquarters to Germany, the son of the company founder, Mr. Mag. pharm. Kurt Pfandl, took over responsibility for the product range, which he systematically expanded. He developed numerous new drugs, including products such as FOKALMIN, SOCKETOL and LEGASED. After taking over the company in 1972, he initiated the construction of new business premises in Dettenhausen, near the university town of Tübingen. As early as 1981, a new production wing and additional storage rooms were added to the business premises. Lege artis Pharma became known as a specialist for dental pharmaceuticals and the distribution of its products was established beyond the borders of Europe. Further modernizations and extensions to the company building followed in 1994, 2007, 2010 and 2014.

Dr. Brigitte Bartelt

The current managing director, Dr. Brigitte Bartelt, granddaughter of the company founder, joined the company in 1993 and took over the management in 1997. With dedication and care, she led the company to certification in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 and 46001 and DIN EN ISO 13485 and Directive 93/42/EEC, thereby laying the foundations for the development, manufacture and marketing of the new product class of dental medical devices. Further measures such as modernizing the corporate identity, intensifying the advertising area and developing new products such as ORBAT sensitive, CALCINASE-slide and CALCIPRO consolidated the success of the family business.

Our history