Richard Wilde didn’t think the wall-mounted X-ray system at Willow Cove Dental in Green Bay looked quite right. A closer look revealed the machine was coming loose from the wall.
“We were not aware that the X-ray system was even loose, and we could not see or tell it was not secured well,” dental hygienist Amanda LaPean recalled. “Ours was an older unit and is quite heavy. It could have been a very bad situation if it had fallen on the hygienist or patient before Richard noticed it and the repair was made.”
Wilde owns Preferred Dental Services, the power behind the growing WDA Service Solutions and WDA Equipment Solutions programs. LaPean helps oversee equipment needs at Rise Dental Practices, which owns Willow Cove, Glacier Dental in Oshkosh, Fox Run Dental in Appleton and Great Blue Dental in Marinette. Both credit the X-ray save to the comprehensive WDA Service Solutions equipment maintenance program Rise Dental has in place for the four offices.
With the maintenance program, Service Solutions technicians inspect each of Rise’s dental offices twice a year. They catch problems early to prevent catastrophic failure, function test all equipment and keep things in good working order. In addition to automatically maintaining all critical equipment items (air compressor, vacuums and autoclaves), technicians track and take care of amalgam filter replacement, water system biofilm shock treatments, water filter changes, plaster trap changes, nitrous oxide system inspections, syringe and vacuum valve maintenance and upholstery issues. They give Administrator Amy Johnson detailed follow-up reports, with estimates to help her make informed decisions on how to keep everything in good working order across the four locations.
“This comprehensive maintenance program offers us a way to prevent and catch equipment problems before they become urgent,” Johnson said. “Having a set schedule for equipment to be checked has saved us time and the confusion that can occur when something breaks in the middle of seeing patients. It is a great way to make sure our equipment is performing the way we need it to, and it has given us the information we need to make educated and fiscally responsible decisions for our practices.”
More time for patients
LaPean, clinic administrator for Glacier Dental, said the maintenance program gives staff peace of mind. Technicians visit on days a practice is closed or has a light schedule.
“It is nice to have them come and service all nine rooms in one stop all on one day, rather than calling every time we have equipment break or wear out,” she said. “It saves the team time, stress and frustration by working with properly functioning and well-maintained equipment.”
Service Solutions has also helped the practices develop more efficient systems, such as configuring all three sterilizers in the Oshkosh office to utilize the SciCan VistaPure system and automatically fill with demineralized water.
“That saved us a ton of time,” LaPean said. “We used to have to carry up large jugs of water that were delivered, and pump it into a small jug just to fill our sterilizers at least once a day. It’s nice to have an inefficient task removed so we can spend that time focusing on patients.”
Fueling practice growth
Support from Service and Equipment Solutions has helped Rise Dental Practices to grow. When Wilde started working with owner Dr. Wyn Steckbauer in 2015, Steckbauer’s only office was Glacier Dental. Today, that office is the flagship for the four-practice company.
As Dr. Steckbauer purchases practices, Service Solutions inspects equipment to evaluate what needs repair or replacement. Equipment Solutions has developed customized equipment plans to fit unique or tight room layouts in newly acquired locations, allowing Rise to maximize existing office space with minimum remodeling. Equipment Solutions is also a resource for equipment technology advice and upgrades. The Oshkosh office has upgraded to a Vatech CBCT system recommended by Equipment Solutions, and Dr. Steckbauer and his team have been very pleased with its ease of use and image clarity.
“When we first started with one office, Richard and his team did a great job of developing relationships with the team members in the office and helping with communication for repairs,” Johnson said. “Since we have added more offices, they have continued to help us develop a more systematic way of both communicating and staying on top of our repairs. Any time an equipment need has arisen, Richard has always been very knowledgeable on what we have in the office, what other options are in the market and which would suit us best. He makes sure staff is trained, and provides valuable insight on anything equipment-related, including disinfectant use, water line treatment products, vacuum system cleaners, you name it. He does a great job of answering any questions we have had and takes the time to make sure we understand our options.”
Both Johnson and LaPean praise WDA Equipment and Service Solutions for a quick response time, even when problems occur outside of the routine maintenance schedule.
“Richard is fantastic,” LaPean said. “Being the clinic administrator of the office and doing clinical hygiene, I do not have a lot of down time. If there is an issue, I call the service number and nine out of 10 times he answers right away or will return a call to the office very promptly. He’s also able to troubleshoot some issues over the phone, eliminating a service call to have someone just look at an easy fix.”
Johnson agreed.
“It has been easy for our teams to know they can trust WDA Equipment Solutions and WDA Service Solutions because they have always been responsive and helpful to our first practice,” she added. “Now, each office can see for themselves the responsiveness and care Richard and his team take. Working with Equipment and Service Solutions is just great.”
Interested in a comprehensive, fully customized equipment maintenance program for your practice?
Contact WDA Service Solutions to discuss your needs. Pricing varies according to office size and desires – no contracts to sign, no cancellation fees. Call 888-213-7300 or email [email protected].
