ExecutiveChronicles | 4 Practical Tips to Buying Dental Equipment | So, are you getting your dental clinic off the ground and looking into the dental equipment you need? For any new dentist who is ready to start their own practice, this process may be daunting. It’s a huge investment, and there are many things you need for your clinic. Don’t get overwhelmed; take a look at these tips that will help you as you set out to buy dental equipment:
Look for used equipment
Because financing your dental practice is such a significant investment, you may want to consider the benefits of investing in used equipment. There are some fabulous refurbished dental equipment providers out there, and this way, you can find options that look new but with a much lower price tag.
While you may not want to buy used items like a dental mirror or saliva ejectors, purchasing the more extensive equipment used is definitely something to think about to avoid the high price tag of brand-new stuff.
Take inventory of what you really need
It may be easy to think about everything you’ll ever need in your clinic and stock up on it all, but you really don’t need to do that. Not only would that be an expensive thing to do, but it’s best to invest when you’re ready to begin offering a new service. If you’re starting out small with room for growth, buy for what you’re offering right now.
As you build capital, you can start looking into offering more and investing in additional equipment or supplies. There may be some equipment you buy in a hurry and find that you’d rather use a more advanced option on the market. So, go slow when choosing your inventory. If you need to, hire an inventory manager for your clinic or use inventory management software.
Shop around for the best supplier
You’re going to want to find a supplier you can trust, especially in this day and age, when supplies can sometimes be hard to come by. There are a lot of dental suppliers online, and while you may not always want to work with the cheapest on the market, you also want to avoid being charged an arm and a leg for every order.
Instead, look around for suppliers that offer some type of discount or freebies for loyalty. You’ll find that this will add up and help you save a lot of money. Additionally, sticking to one supplier can help you save money when you’re getting these kinds of loyalty offers.
Stay on top of inventory as you grow
Instead of trying to stock up on everything you’ll ever need for your clinic, start small. However, you’ll want to stay on top of inventory and prevent inventory damage as you grow since you’ll need supplies before you schedule patient visits. Because of supply chain issues, it’s important to stay on top of your inventory and prepare in advance, so you can always be sure to have what you need.
Additionally, when buying new equipment, consider checking out overstock options that will help you add new equipment to your clinic at a much more accessible cost.
In Conclusion
Buying the right equipment for your dental clinic takes time and research. If you’re new to the scene, you may want to speak to other dentists who can help recommend the best type of inventory to get started and dental equipment providers they’ve done business with already. Whether you’re purchasing used or brand new, shopping around is always a good idea when trying to get the best equipment for your dental practice.