Ordering new instruments and supplies for your dental practice is essential, but it can also be time-consuming if you don’t have a clear checklist of what you already have and what you need. As a dental practice owner or office manager, you already have many responsibilities on your plate as you prepare to open or upgrade your dental startup practice.
With a dental office supply inventory list, you can efficiently review your supplies and determine what you need to order. Referencing this list can also prevent you from ordering more products than you need, potentially impacting your cash flow.
Types Of Dental Supplies You Need
As in any medical practice, dental offices need a range of tools and instruments so providers can effectively care for patients. If your inventory does not feel quite complete, use this dental office equipment checklist to see what you’re missing.
1. Dental Hygiene and Preventative Care Supplies
Some of the most commonly used dentist office supplies include tools needed for routine cleanings, exams and X-rays.
Dental hygiene and preventative care supplies are inventory non-negotiables that you need for many basic procedures, so you may want to have these items in bulk.
If you don’t have any of the following items already in stock or on the way, it’s important to add them to your supplies list:
- Disposable plastic Dappen dishes
- Disposable prophylaxis angle
- Dual arches fluoride trays
- Fluoride gel
- Prophylaxis paste
- Prophylaxis paste cups
- Sodium fluoride varnish
2. Essential Dental Disposables
Certain items, such as cups and bibs, cannot be reused between patients. These disposable products help promote cleanliness and safety while reducing the risk of infection.
You can prevent cross-contamination while staying conscious of plastic waste at your dental practice by keeping minimal required disposable items in your inventory, such as:
- Cotton rolls
- Disposable cups
- Headrest covers
- Non-woven sponges
- Patient bibs
- Tray covers
3. Infection Control Products
Proper disinfection and sterilization are top priorities for all dental practices. Without the right tools or training, you can increase the risk of bacterial contamination in your patients.
Infection control products enable you to inactivate a broad spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms and keep reusable dental tools sterilized between patients. Some of the most essential infection control products include the following:
- Air and water syringe tips
- Barrier film
- Disinfectant cleaners and sprays
- Disinfectant wipes and towelettes
- Enzymatic tablets
- Full chair sleeves
- Hand sanitizer
- Sterilization pouches
- Ultrasonic cleaning tablets
- Ultrasonic solution liquid
- X-ray digital sensor sleeves
4. Restorative Dental Materials
Restorative dental materials are needed for a wide range of procedures that involve tooth decay, damage, cavities and fillings. High-quality instruments can enhance the transformative results of restorative dentistry.
Purchasing restorative instruments in bulk can provide greater value for your supplies and improve the way your patients look and feel. Here are some essential restorative dental materials to have in your inventory:
- Amalgam carriers and wells
- Angle formers
- Burnishers
- Calipers
- Carvers
- Cement spatulas
- Chisels
- Crown removers and spreaders
- Excavators
- Forceps and tweezers
- Impression trays
- Margin trimmers
- Matrix retainers
- Placement instruments
- Waxing instruments
5. Dental Lab Supplies
From dental front office supplies to orthodontic tools to personal protective equipment (PPE), there are a variety of tools you need to effectively carry out your services.
Here are some of the most frequently used miscellaneous dental supplies you may not have on your list:
- Aspirator tips
- Bite registration sets
- Bite sticks
- Cheek retractors
- Cotton pliers
- Face masks
- Face shields
- Infusor tips
- Mixing tips
- Saliva ejectors
- Silicone mixing bowls
- Stainless steel primary molar crowns
- Surgical gowns
- Topical anesthetic gel
The Importance of Buying Quality Dental Supplies for Your Practice
Choosing the right supplier for your dental supplies is essential for professional advancement and patient comfort. Trustworthy dental supplies companies can cater to your specific needs and provide affordable alternatives for durable products.
1. Enhancing Your Patient Experience
A recent survey found that 75% of women and 67% of men have dental anxiety. Dental anxiety or phobia is a significant barrier to seeking dental care. Aside from convenient amenities and effective communication, the equipment you use during your dental appointments can have a substantial impact on a patient’s experience in your chair.
Choosing durable, newer technology and equipment can help reduce unnecessary discomfort during dental procedures and keep patients calm. Innovative and cutting-edge diagnosis options can also contribute to a comfortable environment by streamlining dental appointments. High-quality stainless steel instruments are also essential for reducing infection risk, which can improve your practice’s reputation and help attract new patients.
2. Becoming a Sustainable Dental Practice
Though disposable and plastic products are sometimes necessary in the dental industry to prevent contamination and infection, your practice can make certain choices to reduce your impact on the environment. By choosing a dental office supplier that uses recycled materials to make high-quality products, you can feel confident that you’re contributing to a more sustainable world.
Buying from your supplier in bulk and choosing reusable utensils instead of single-use plastics can also make your practice more environmentally conscious. You can even recycle old dental instruments. For instance, ProDentUSA’s recycling program, Instruments for Change, accepts donations of dental supplies and refurbishes them to send to providers in need around the globe.
3. Becoming an Efficient Dental Practice
Having high-quality, long-lasting tools at your disposal means you can spend less time dealing with inventory issues and more time providing efficient care to patients. For instance, if you’re using older tools that constantly need to be repaired or replaced, you’re likely not being as productive as you could be.
You can streamline your operations with stainless steel tools of the highest grade that your staff can quickly and easily sanitize before and after each patient. Additionally, using effective tools can help you maintain cleanliness in your office and build your brand reputation by leaving a positive impression on patients.
Why Choose ProDentUSA?
Running out of essential dental supplies can create bottlenecks in your cash flow and frustrate your staff. Keeping your inventory well-stocked with a variety of dental equipment can improve your practice and keep patients healthy.
At ProDentUSA, we’re committed to manufacturing reliable stainless steel products that provide the best results possible. All of our tools and supplies are backed by our unique ProDent Promise — designed to last and guaranteed to satisfy. At ProDentUSA, we’re spreading smiles, one instrument at a time.
If you want to keep your dental practice stocked with high-quality dental instruments, shop our best sellers online or contact us today to learn about our bulk ordering options.
