Starting a new clinic is all about ticking the boxes and getting the foundations right. To make sure that nothing is missed or overlooked, we’ve created a compact checklist that will only take you a couple of minutes to work through. We hope you find it useful when you’re trying to focus on the details while also working on the big picture of your new business.
Let’s take a closer look at the key equipment your clinic will need so that we can see how far along you are in your preparations.
Dental chair
The main piece of equipment in any clinic needs to look the part, but it also needs to combine substance with style. A comfortable, relaxed, and reassured patient will be much easier to work with, allowing the dentist to focus on what they do best. Making sure that the chair is fully adjustable and easy to clean is key here.
Suction unit
Food debris and excess saliva will get in the way and obscure the view of even the most skilled and experienced dentist. Having a hygienist or assistant on hand with a targeted suction unit will ensure that this is never an issue. Ideal when you want to be able to focus on the task at hand and work with precision and clarity of thought.
Hygienic spittoon
Rinsing and cleaning out the mouth is something that will happen dozens of times a day, so a dedicated spittoon is needed to take away all of the liquid. Sourcing one from a specialist supplier will help your new practice meet its cleanliness and hygiene obligations by having the right equipment in place.
Precision handpieces
Dentists will typically use a variety of handpieces during the course of the working day, with the specific choice at any given time being determined by the geometry they are working with. Handpieces that come with a variety of interchangeable instruments will provide dentists with the greatest level of choice and allow them to find the right piece for the job. This is particularly important when working on complex, multi-stage restorations.
Intraoral X-ray system
One of the most expensive pieces of equipment any practice will invest in is also one of the most important. X-ray imaging allows dentists to identify and diagnose complex issues that are beneath the gums, particularly those where roots are damaged or have not formed as expected.
Air polishers
Investing in a dental air polisher from a trusted national supplier will ensure that you can provide the full range of cleaning and stain removal procedures with ease. An air polisher will quickly become one of the most versatile ways of removing softer plaque buildups in any clinic, meaning that the choice of instrument has to be highly reliable. The best way to ensure this is to only ever do business with established suppliers used by dental clinics right across the country.
Dental instruments
Root canals require specialist rotary files to clean and shape spaces beneath the gums. Probes, mirrors, and explorers are needed to diagnose complex issues that may require a specific course of treatment. There are also scalers that are ideally suited to removing plaque and tartar that have begun to form on the outer surface of the teeth. Having a comprehensive range of dental instruments ready and waiting is one of the main jobs of a practice manager.
Sterilisation system
A specialist system will ensure that infection rates are controlled and that instruments are always ready for the next appointment. It will typically be loaded and operated by the dental assistant or hygienist while the senior dentist reviews case notes for their next appointment.
Dental consumables
Gloves, masks, bibs, wipes, and cups are just a few examples of the dental consumables that every practice will need to be equipped with. Their specialist nature and the need for a constant supply of consumables and disposable items mean that finding the right supplier is of paramount importance. This is one of the chief responsibilities of the practice manager and is a key building block of any growing dental practice.
Taking a moment to find a trusted, established, and highly regarded supplier with nationwide reach is the best approach here. By using them as a central point of contact, you can get everything you need with nothing but a regular call or electronic order. Ideal when you want to be able to take control of your business by building it on the right foundations from day one.
