Orthotown October 2023 - 53

experiences. You don't just need to
go to meetings to learn from your
peers as the industry continues to
evolve quickly with 3D technology,
aligners and customized brackets that
reduce chair time! With more than
8,000 verifi ed members, Orthotown's
online message boards are a great
place to seek advice and suggestions.
Our private Mari's List member
forum is another great place where
orthodontists can discuss products
and services and get honest, valuable
peer feedback.
Watch your biggest dental
supply cost.
Consumables for orthodontists run
53%-58% of your dental supply cost,
because you often see patients for up
to two years. Most orthodontic practices
aren't aware this is their largest
expense category, with hundreds of
products, so overspending here adds
up more in a year than a big discount
on any one item.
Stay on top of warranties.
Use your practice management software
to track repairs and warranties
and their expiration dates. Having
something serviced before the warranty
ends can really save you down
the road!
Look at your credit card charges.
If you haven't talked to someone who
can help you reduce these charges, we
recommend the free analysis available
from Merchant Cost Consulting.
Whichever vendor you approach for
help with this, ask what percentage
of savings you keep, because diff erent
groups have diff erent negotiations.
Track your bond failures.
If they seem high, review your bonding
system with everyone on the team.
Bond failures cost you not only in
product but also valuable doctor time.
Look at where the adhesive is, because
it can help isolate the cause.
Take your ordering person
to the AAO Annual Session.
Assign them booths to visit and
products to research. Have them ask
for samples if you haven't tried something.
Give them incentives to save
you money! If you're in a buying group,
go by and see if they have promos to
show you, along with a map of the
AAO fl oor.
Revisit your ordering list at least
yearly with your team.
Know what you're paying for things
and which companies you're using.
Watch your overall dental supply cost,
because this is important to know.
Th ere is no one-size-fi ts-all solution
to inventory and ordering, but
with time you'll fi nd what works
best for your practice. Th e key is
to be consistent in your process so
you aren't running out of supplies
and scrambling at the last minute,
ordering too often in smaller
quantities, or throwing expired
products away.
Focus on one-time-use products
and consumables. Th ese add up
faster than doctors realize and,
again, constitute 53%-58% of your
supply cost. Seemingly small items
or small mistakes can add up to
big dollars very quickly in a thriving
practice. OT
Mari Sawtelle, founder of the Mari's List orthodontic buying group, worked
in sales and training positions for companies including The A Company,
Ormco and Align Technology before striking out into consultancy focused
on inventory control and purchasing. At the 2023 AAO Annual Session
in Chicago, Mari's List was named best orthodontic service provider in
recognition of the deals it negotiates with 165 dental and orthodontic vendors
on behalf of its members in private practice, who can lower their dental supply
cost to as low as 3%-5% of production. Information: marislist.com
OCTOBER 2023 | 53 | ORTHOTOWN.COM
http://www.marislist.com http://www.ORTHOTOWN.COM
Orthotown October 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown October 2023
