Keeping your office running like a well-oiled machine can be an overwhelming task. With growing staffing challenges and the increasing need for efficiency, here are the top 5 ways that dental equipment can save you time and money.
5) Add an automated handpiece maintenance system – The workhorse of the dental practice is the doctor’s handpiece. While is seems relatively simple to spray some oil into the handpiece and run some air through it – this is something that is commonly done in a rush. The easiest and most effective way to make sure you are doing proper maintenance is to use an automated handpiece maintenance system. Installing a system simplifies the maintenance process by properly cleaning, lubricating and purging handpieces prior to sterilization. Multiple handpieces can be maintained simultaneously, saving you time while ensuring that you are extending the life of your handpieces.
4) Add intraoral cameras and chairside monitors – Pictures are not just worth a thousand words in the dental world – they are worth thousands of dollars! Adding intraoral cameras and chairside monitors are an invaluable tool that helps to educate the patient and increase treatment acceptance rates. Do you want to increase your insurance claim acceptance rate on the first try? According to dentalclaimsupport.com, if you submit an intraoral photo with the fracture or decay circled and include a narrative that clearly supports the treatment needed, 9 times out of 10 insurance companies will send you payment for your claim upon initial submission. Getting a claim paid on the first try is music to every dental professional’s ears!
3) Install a central water filtration system – One of the biggest threats to dental equipment is water quality issues. Biofilm, minerals and sediment can lead to plugged water lines or bacterial exposure for the patient. Throughout the years, there have been many time-consuming water maintenance solutions which include weekly waterline shocking protocols and water bottle additives. The centralized water system includes a chemical-free, submicron filtration process that protects expensive equipment and removes virtually all microbial contaminates. You can save time by eliminating the need for shocking water lines and bottled water systems altogether.
2) Add a dental instrument washer – Many homeowners will say that their favorite kitchen appliance is the dishwasher. This is no different when it comes to the dental office. Traditionally, instruments are cleaned manually or in an ultrasonic tank, rinsed and placed on a towel to air-dry prior to packaging for sterilization. It’s often tempting to cut corners at this stage and pouch wet instruments risking compromised sterilization. When you add an instrument washer to your sterilization center, this entire process is automated. Through the combined use of high-pressure hot water and fresh cleaning solution, debris and residue are removed. Finally, a drying cycle produces instruments that are ready for pouching or cassettes. This automation saves one hour of labor for every nine procedural set ups!
1) Sign-up for an equipment maintenance program – The Complete Office maintenance program was created by dentists who asked, “Why do I keep calling service technicians and they only fix one problem? Is there a way I can have all of my service issues taken care of at once?” The answer is YES!
Maintenance YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/PqgLmC4d0ZY
The traditional approach to dental equipment repair is also known as the “break and fix” method. You break it, and the technician fixes it. This approach ignores prevention and misses other equipment in your office that may be close to failure. At WDA Service Solutions we have developed a program that turns the “break and fix” cycle into proactive prevention for ALL of the dental equipment in your office. This program reduces downtime, reduces equipment failure, reduces staff frustration and improves efficiency within the office. The goal of a maintenance program is to increase equipment longevity and help protect the most expensive investment within your practice. Please contact us by filling out the no-obligation Maintenance Sign-up form at www.wdaequipmentsolutions.com/maintenance and our experienced team will create a maintenance plan that is custom to your office.
