FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about ProNorth Medical — who we are, what we sell, how we ship, and how clinics order. Can’t find what you need? Talk to a real specialist or call 1-844-537-0493 (Mon–Fri, 7am–7pm PT).

About ProNorth Medical

Who is ProNorth Medical?

ProNorth Medical is a Canadian, family-owned medical and surgical supplier founded in 2011 and based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. We’re a father-and-son team — Robert Horne (Founder & CEO) and Trevor Horne (Director of Growth) — supplying professional-grade wound closure, surgical instruments, clinical disposables, capital equipment, and ergonomic saddle stools to clinics and studios across Canada and the United States. Our leadership has more than 40 years of medical-product experience, including decades at Johnson & Johnson, so when you call you reach people who have actually worked in the operating room.

Is ProNorth Medical a Canadian company?

Yes. ProNorth Medical is a Canadian, family-owned business founded in 2011 and headquartered at 6-2290 Boley St, Abbotsford, British Columbia. We ship from both Canadian and U.S. stock, so Canadian customers get fast domestic delivery and U.S. customers get fast cross-border fulfillment.

What products does ProNorth Medical sell?

We specialize in six areas: (1) wound closure and sutures, (2) surgical and hand instruments, (3) clinical supplies and disposables, (4) capital equipment such as surgical lighting, surgery and dental tables, sterilizers, and microscopes, (5) PPE and consumables, and (6) ergonomic saddle stools. We carry both our own house suture brands and recognized name brands, and we serve dental, veterinary, medical, tattoo, beauty, and ergonomic-seating markets.

What makes ProNorth different from Amazon or generic medical supply stores?

Three things. First, expertise: our team has 40+ years in medical products and wound closure, so you get real product guidance instead of a search box. Second, service: you reach people with operating-room experience, plus risk-free returns and genuine warranty support — not a marketplace ticket queue. Third, focus: we stock clinic- and studio-grade products (not consumer knock-offs), offer clinic and bulk pricing, standing reorders, and full-room quotes, and ship fast from Canada and the USA. We’re a specialist supplier built by people who’ve stood in the operating room, not a general marketplace.

Does ProNorth support dental, veterinary, medical, tattoo, beauty, and office professionals?

Yes. ProNorth Medical serves dental clinics, veterinary clinics, human medical practices, tattoo studios, lash/brow and beauty professionals, and home-office and ergonomic-seating customers. Sutures, instruments, and capital equipment are organized by profession, and our ergonomic saddle stools are used across all of these fields wherever people work seated for long hours.

Customers we serve

Does ProNorth Medical sell to dental clinics?

Yes. We supply dental clinics with dental sutures, hand and dental instruments, instrument cassettes, operatory lighting, treatment tables, sterilizers, microscopes, custom loupes, surgical blades, gloves and PPE, and ergonomic stools including the Pro Assistant CDA stool. Dental practices can also request bulk pricing and clinic quotes.

Does ProNorth Medical sell to veterinary clinics?

Yes. Veterinary clinics are one of our core markets. We supply veterinary sutures (including our house brands), spay/neuter surgery kits, hand instruments and cassettes, surgical lighting and tables, sterilizers, cages and housing, headlamps, and clinic disposables. We also help vet clinics outfit entire surgical suites as a single quoted bundle.

Sutures & wound closure

Does ProNorth Medical sell sutures?

Yes — sutures and wound closure are where ProNorth started, more than 40 years ago, and remain our specialty. Our Suture Supercenter carries absorbable and non-absorbable sutures in every common size and needle type, for veterinary, dental, and medical use. You’ll find our house brands (MONOPRO™, DOXIPRO™, VILET™, VIPRO™, NYLOPRO™) alongside name brands including Ethicon, LOOK, and Sharpoint. Our suture selector tool matches the right suture by setting, tissue, and handling.

What are absorbable sutures?

Absorbable sutures are surgical threads the body breaks down and absorbs over time, so they don’t need to be removed. They’re used to close internal tissues and in places where suture removal is difficult — common in veterinary surgery, oral/dental procedures, and subcutaneous closure. Materials include poliglecaprone (e.g., our MONOPRO™), polyglactin (VILET™/VIPRO™ family), and surgical gut. Absorption time varies by material, from a couple of weeks to a few months.

What are non-absorbable sutures?

Non-absorbable sutures are threads that the body does not break down; they stay in place until a clinician removes them, or permanently for some internal applications. They’re used for skin closure where sutures will be removed, and where long-term strength is needed. Common materials include nylon (e.g., our NYLOPRO™), polypropylene, silk, and PTFE. They’re valued for strength, low tissue reactivity, and secure knots.

What is the difference between veterinary sutures and human medical sutures?

The core suture materials and engineering are very similar — the differences are mainly in regulatory labeling, packaging, sizing/needle selection, and price. Sutures sold for human surgical use carry human-medical regulatory clearances and are typically priced accordingly. Veterinary sutures are labeled and sold for animal use, often in needle/length configurations suited to veterinary procedures, and are frequently more cost-effective. ProNorth’s house brands give veterinary clinics a high-quality, value-priced alternative comparable to the name brands surgeons already know. Always select sutures cleared and labeled for your specific clinical use.

Does ProNorth Medical sell Ethicon sutures?

Yes. ProNorth Medical stocks name-brand Ethicon sutures, primarily for dental and medical use, alongside other name brands (LOOK, Sharpoint) and our own house brands. If you can’t find a specific Ethicon code, contact us or request a quote and we’ll source it.

Saddle stools

What are ProNorth saddle stools?

ProNorth saddle stools are ergonomic seats designed in Canada that open the hips toward roughly 135° and encourage an upright, neutral spine — so you sit tall and engage your core instead of slumping through long procedures. They feature adjustable height, a tilt mechanism, a stable base, and durable clinic-grade materials, are rated to 400 lb, assemble in about 5 minutes with no tools, and are backed by a 30-day risk-free fit trial and a 3-year warranty.

Who uses saddle stools?

Saddle stools are used by professionals who work seated for long hours and need to protect their posture: dental hygienists and dentists, dental assistants, veterinarians and surgeons, lash, brow, and tattoo artists, and home-office workers. More than 15,000 professionals have switched to ProNorth saddle stools.

What is the difference between Pro Black, Pro White, Pro Swivel, Pro Lumbar, Pro Split, and Pro Assistant?

All ProNorth saddle stools share the same core ergonomic saddle design; the models differ by support style, adjustability, and intended use:

• Pro Black — the classic backless saddle stool and our most popular entry model. Open-hip posture, adjustable height, tilt. Best all-round choice for most clinicians.
• Pro White — the same saddle design offered in a white/light colourway for practices that prefer a lighter aesthetic.
• Pro Swivel — adds an enhanced swivel/tilt range for reach and movement, available in standard (21"–26") and extended/taller (26"–34") piston heights for taller users or higher workstations.
• Pro Lumbar — a saddle stool with an added lumbar back support for those who want lower-back contact, available in black and white.
• Pro Split — features a split-seat design that relieves central pressure, a popular choice for added comfort.
• Pro Assistant (CDA stool) — a dental-assistant stool with body/torso support, designed for chairside assisting and over-the-patient work; our top-tier model.

Not sure which fits how you work? Take the 30-second stool quiz or compare every model in our Saddle Stool Comparison Guide.

What is the stool return policy?

Every ProNorth saddle stool comes with a 30-day risk-free fit trial: use it in your real workday for 30 days, and if it isn’t right, email orders@pronorthmedical.ca to arrange a return. The item must be in original condition and packaging, and a $100 flat return fee applies (premium ergonomic brands charge a trial fee too). Refunds typically process within about a week. Stools are also covered by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty on major components, with replacement parts and real human support.

Shipping, ordering & clinic accounts

Does ProNorth Medical ship across Canada?

Yes. We ship across Canada from Canadian stock, with fast domestic delivery and same-day dispatch on many in-stock items. Free shipping applies on orders over $1,250 CAD.

Does ProNorth Medical ship to the United States?

Yes. We ship throughout the United States from U.S. stock for fast cross-border fulfillment. Free shipping applies on U.S. orders over $850 USD, and every saddle stool ships free in both Canada and the U.S.

How long does shipping take?

In-stock items often ship the same day, and most orders arrive within a few business days. Saddle stools ship within about 48 hours and typically arrive in 2–5 business days, with tracking the moment they leave. Capital equipment and special-order items can take longer; if timing is critical, contact us or request a quote for an exact lead time.

How can clinics place bulk orders?

Clinics can place bulk orders by requesting a quote through our contact page or by calling 1-844-537-0493. Send a parts list or a photo of what you’re building and we’ll price it — usually within one business day. We offer volume and clinic pricing on sutures, blades, and disposables, plus standing reorders so your shelves stay stocked automatically. Registering for a clinic account unlocks faster reordering.

Can clinics request custom quotes?

Yes. Whether you’re outfitting a new operatory, a mobile unit, or doing a full refit, a real specialist will put together pricing, lead times, and bundle options — no procurement portal, no runaround. Request a quote or book a call, and we typically respond within one business day.