Replace Or Repair Dental Equipment - Which Is Best?

If you are the head dentist at your dental clinic, then chances are you are the one responsible for determining what to do with the dental equipment once it begins to wear out or need to be replace due to a potential malfunction. This responsibility is not one to take lightly- after all your patient family and co-workers are counting on you to make the right decisions. If you are trying to decide if dental equipment repair is the best alternative (as opposed to buying brand new) then there are a variety of factors to consider before moving forward. Here are some considerations to keep in mind. How old is the dental equipment to be repaired? If it is an older machine then it is worth looking at newer models to see what they have to offer. If there have been only minor upgrades then it might be in your best interest to simply have the equipment repaired by a qualified company.How long will it take to get the item repaired? Depending on how often you might use the equipment, you may need to adjust your appointments so that you can still get everything done. Of course, if the repair can be made on site, then that would be ideal. Another alternative, would be to rent the needed equipment while your items are being repaired - this way you won't any lag time.Determine if repairing it will get you that much longer a life on the machine. For items that are already more than 10 years old, it is unlikely that repair costs are still covered under a warranty which means you pay out of pocket for the repair. If the repair will only buy you an extra year or two, it might be wise to go ahead and update.Are the pieces you are using, affecting your efficiency?When was the last time the equipment was serviced? It may be that you don't actually need to update a piece, but rather you need to have a dental repair service person come to the office and simply do a maintenance update. With the answers to these considerations in mind, there are some reasons why dental practices opt to repair rather than replace. These are: In most case, repairing dental equipment is a better option for your budget than replacing.Repairing the equipment means less items in the landfills.Repairing often takes significantly less time than replacing them especially when it is items such as hand pieces. Repairing dental equipment can be a great way to save money for your practice. Before you buy that new dental handpiece, do your homework. You might be surprised at what you discover.