Dental Equipment Dental Equipment 3 What Do You Have To Have? You've probably noticed that there is a wide variety of dental equipment available today. What equipment do you need? What will work best for your program and your budget? Do you really need the highest priced item, or will a less expensive alternative provide the features and reliability for less money? Your Henry Schein representative can help. The best time to discuss how various types and brands of equipment will fit into your plan is in the earliest stages of your planning. To help you start to decide what will work best for your program, let's first look at a list of elements you should consider as you choose equipment, and talk about some specific items you'll probably need. When you consider purchasing equipment, what should you think about? Cost effectiveness? Of course! Reliability? Certainly! What else should be on your list? * Warranty - longer is better. * Ergonomic soundness - Does the equipment allow the clinician and assistant to sit with good posture and minimize stress on their bodies and limbs as they reach and move during treatment? * Is the equipment comfortable for the patient? * Is it easy to adapt the equipment to left- or right-handedness? * Promotion of productivity - do your employees want to use the equipment, or do they avoid using it? * Does the equipment aid with improved treatment outcomes? Less time for the patient, faster healing? * Appearance - does the equipment "fit" in your design scheme? * Design and features for the procedures you plan to provide and the patients you plan to serve. * Evaluation and application of new and emerging technologies. * How long must the equipment last before your program will be able to replace it? * What is the best value for investment? * Invest in the highest quality core equipment (dental chairs and delivery units) your program can afford, where wear and tear will be great and the likelihood of being able to replace that equipment may be more than 10 or 15 years hence. * Invest in the best mechanical equipment you can afford. This is the vacuum and compressor. If they go down, the whole clinic and all treatment stop. * Invest in enough treatment rooms to allow optimal treatment and patient flow. * Invest in evidence-based technology that improves patient and clinician experience as well as outcomes. * Avoid 'gadgets' - that is equipment or items that lack evidence-based value. For more information, please call 1-800-851-0400 37