Selecting dental equipment is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your practice. Making the right choice can increase productivity and success, it may also help you to perform healthier, more efficient dentistry. The following points can be considered and applied whether you’re making your first dental equipment purchase or your twenty-first.
Durability and reliability
The first thing you should look for in dental equipment is durability and reliability. For an environment that’s subject to moisture and constant use, choose solid equipment that’s built to withstand the daily rigours of dentistry. Try these tests next time you’re in a dealer showroom or at a dental tradeshow:
? Touch each piece of equipment to get a feel for how well it’s made.
? Operate the dental chairs by moving the armrest up and down and adjust the headrest.
? Sit down beside and behind the chair. Is it easy to position yourself close to the chair at each working position?
? Recline in the dental chair and experience the comfort.
? Check the motion. Is it bumpy or smooth?
? Notice if the equipment feels sturdy.
? Open and close the cabinets. Do they open and close smoothly?
? Check that all parts fit well together.
? Test the function of the delivery system, chair, and all components. Just as you wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive, don’t buy dental equipment without testing its functionality.
Performance and efficiency
The ultimate test of your equipment is how well it performs. Top-performing equipment keeps you operating at peak efficiency. Every feature should have a specific purpose, with the ultimate goal of helping you and your team perform at your best. Each piece should be ergonomically designed not only for patient comfort, but for your comfort as well. Consider these two major points when you’re trying to create a comfortable, efficient work environment:
? Economy of motion: Never move more than necessary.
Design your environment to access what you need, and keep what you use most often within reach. By eliminating time wasting movements, such as overreaching for an instrument, twisting your body or craning your neck, you can complete procedures more efficiently.
? Reduce fatigue: Make every move count.
Treatment teams have to work in neutral positions, which implies that the more they move, the more energy they waste. The tenser the muscles, the less efficiently they operate. Through the years, the daily aches and pains of poor positioning accumulate and can lead to chronic injury, severely impacting their ability to practise dentistry. Look for equipment that will reduce your motion and make every move count.
Reputation and service
When your equipment isn’t working, you’re not working. Excessive maintenance can result in costly service calls and lost productivity. Select products that need the least amount of maintenance and service. Choose a manufacturer that has a history of creating innovative products that are durable, reliable, and easy to maintain.
Ask your peers for advice: What brand do they use? Would they buy that brand again? Who do they trust? Make sure you choose a manufacturer that stands by its products and will still be in business when it comes time for servicing or upgrading five, six, even 10 years down the road.
To buy new or make do
If what you have is still operating (though outdated), you may be pondering the merits of investing in new equipment. There are, however, some very basic questions you should ask yourself:
Although your existing equipment still may be operating up to the standards at which it originally was manufactured, does it perform to today’s standards of dentistry? Does it have the features (such as seamless integration of electric motors, cameras or scalers) offered currently that weren’t available, say, 10 years ago? If not, your productivity may be impaired.
Does your existing equipment require excessive maintenance and continued costly service calls? If it does, you’re losing productive hours in downtime – as well as money in repair costs.
Does your existing equipment look up-to-date? Today’s patients look at your office through a more sophisticated lens. Your practice can be seen as a reflection of your professional commitment to excellence and success. Clean, modern looking equipment and furniture can instil confidence and trust that your dental techniques are equally up to date.
Value and pricing
If you approach purchasing equipment as a feature-for-feature or pound-forpound experience, you may end up with a mismatch in terms of lasting quality and satisfaction. The whole is worth more than the sum of the parts. How can you navigate the market and determine what to buy? Is there really a difference in quality? Such is the
difference between value and price.
Guide your purchase decision by:
? Asking questions about product performance, reliability, and durability.
? Researching the manufacturer’s products, consistency, and longevity in the marketplace.
? Asking what differentiates a manufacturer’s products from the competition and/or new generations of product.
? Learning about the partnership between the manufacturer and your full-service dealer. Do they have an established reputation for standing behind the product? What is their customer service record?
? Defining what you need and expect from your next dental equipment purchase.
Each of the points mentioned can be applied to all aspects of a treatment room’s purchase, whether a full surgery
re-fit is required or a replacement stool. Consider these points when thinking about dental seating, delivery and assistant support systems, lights, monitor mounts and dental furniture. Other topics such as sterilisation, dental unit water, and maintenance can also be included in this analysis since they greatly impact your workflow, productivity, and treatment room procedures. Use these guide points as a compass to determine the questions to ask and issues to consider as you visit a dental show, dealer’s showroom, or even a colleague’s surgery.