Looking at dentistry from the point of view of the practice manager, rather than the dentist or patient, gives us a much clearer insight into how these types of businesses function.
As with any business they have overheads that include staffing costs, rent and utilities, routine maintenance, and marketing.
They also have a tightly regulated industry that provides their equipment and supplies; something that not every business has to contend with.
The Importance of Dental Equipment Regulation
Without dental equipment regulation, standardisation and accountability are not possible. If you want patients to be able to leave an appointment happy, you need a consistently high-quality range of equipment and consumables at your disposal.
By tightly regulating the industry, regulators are able to cover all of the key areas:
- Safety: Every piece of equipment needs to be safe for dentists and assistants to operate while also being safe for the patients
- Efficacy: All dental equipment sold in the UK needs to do the job it was principally designed to do without any other side effects
- Reliability: Dental equipment should be able to be used on a daily basis without the need for constant repairs. Disposable equipment needs to be consistent across large bulk orders
- Quality: Only when dental equipment is of the highest quality can dental professionals be expected to do their job to the best of their ability
Let’s take a look at some of the key pieces of equipment that every dental practice manager is tasked with procuring.
What Are the Essential Dental Equipment for a Modern Practice?
Scrubs
Scrubs are the everyday uniform of dentists, hygienists, and dental nurses. They are rightly the standard throughout the industry because they ensure good hygiene practices begin at the start of a shift and never slip throughout the day.
A set of scrubs needs to be comfortable so that it can be worn all day without causing overheating, itching, or inhibiting movement in any way.
Dentistry is a more physical job than it first appears, with many routine procedures requiring the dentist to adopt a number of key positions around the dental chair.
Being able to do so in clothing that is both safe and comfortable will help them have a steady hand when fine details and finesse are of paramount importance.
Masks
Disposable masks have been key elements of every practice’s equipment list for decades, and with good reason. The pandemic showed all of us that not all masks are created equal, further underlining the importance of finding the right balance between affordability and quality.
Buying in bulk from a trusted national supplier, and doing so on an automatically recurring basis, can provide practice managers with economies of scale.
The result is a key piece of equipment that is comfortable to wear, always available to those on the frontline, and priced well within the practice budget.
Oral cameras
One of the latest innovations in the world of dental equipment is the oral camera and it’s something every modern practice should have access to.
Being able to see the inner workings of a patient’s mouth in high definition is something that can help issues to be solved faster.
Many dentists also use the images they acquire to highlight problems to their patients, improving understanding and longer-term outcomes in the process.
Gloves
Every dental practice needs to have a readily available supply of dentist gloves that never runs low. A national supply chain that provides the right sizes, fits, and glove materials is something that can make all the difference when consistent quality is the name of the game.
Partnering with a trusted supplier is something that every practice manager is recommended to consider after reading this article.
Dental chairs
Last but by no means least, dental chairs are perhaps the most striking piece of equipment in any practice or surgery. Many patients can develop a phobia or fear of the dentist, with the chair playing a prominent role in the uncomfortable mental imagery they experience.
By investing in a comfortable, adjustable, and professional-looking dental chair, practice managers can play a key role in helping every patient relax.
Making sure that all of the above, and anything else the practice needs to function, is sourced from a trusted national supplier has never mattered more.
Dental practice managers who are able to place bulk, recurring orders with established suppliers will be able to economise as a result of economies of scale while still guaranteeing quality.
Exactly what’s needed for a modern practice to continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive sector.
