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When it comes to choosing dental equipment, Dental Service Organizations and dental schools have a lot in common. Just like a DSO, a dental school has a budget to consider, a clear procurement process, and a focus on getting the best return on their investment.
It’s worth noting that A-dec® is the preferred choice in more than 80% of North American dental schools today. Even schools on fixed or very tight budgets select A-dec equipment more often than any other brand. So what lessons can your DSO learn from their experience?
Lesson 1: Know your environment
The equipment and furniture in a dental school—and a DSO—get considerably more use than in a private practice. That makes quality, durability and consistent performance essential.
In a DSO environment, reliable dental equipment is what keeps operatories full, clinic schedules running smoothly, and staff working productively. So before you buy, ask these questions: How durable is the equipment? What’s the expected lifespan? Is it designed for the extra demands of a DSO? A-dec dental equipment is renowned for its legendary quality and comes backed with a 10-year warranty. Even in high-use corporate dental group settings, more than 99% of A-dec dental units and chairs required no service beyond recommended annual maintenance in their first five years1.
Here’s another important consideration: Just as in a dental school, your equipment will be used by many different people during the week. Is it adjustable for both right- and left-handed clinicians? How well does it accommodate a range of heights? A-dec’s innovative Radius® configuration was first invented so that dental schools could easily move the delivery to either the right or left side of the chair. And with one of the lowest base down settings in the industry, A-dec dental chairs enable doctors of all heights to practice comfortably.
Lesson 2: Think ahead
Dental schools are in the business of educating the next generation of clinicians, and understand that today’s younger cohort of dental professionals wants to work with the newest technology. With that in mind, it’s wise to consider the expandability of your equipment. If you won’t be able to easily integrate new features or technology, you’re shortchanging your ability to expand your services, and attract top talent to your DSO.
Look for dental equipment designed to easily integrate with a wide range of clinical devices, and to accommodate new technologies as they evolve. A-dec designs with an eye to the future, to ensure you get the most for your investment now, while supporting your DSO’s plans for growth.
And when you’re connected via the A-dec+ software platform, it’s easier to manage and monitor your A-dec equipment more efficiently. Using the A‑dec+ app group account, you’re able to view aggregated equipment data from multiple clinics, which helps you maximize your return on investment and offers greater visibility into the total cost of ownership.
Lesson 3: Focus on efficiency
Because dental schools are teaching labs full of students at any given time, having a smooth workflow is important. A-dec brings DSOs a seamless, integrated process with a purposeful clinic layout. Equipping treatment rooms with A-dec dental chairs, stools, deliveries, lights and furniture—and having a dedicated A-dec sterilization center—can make a significant difference in efficiency, which fuels profitability and future growth.
At the patient-treatment level, efficiency is a function of the A-dec dental furniture, chair and delivery system designs. A-dec’s “flight deck” concept puts everything the team needs within easy reach, minimizing time-wasting movements. Having one convenient, organized zone with every tool at their fingertips—and optimal access to the oral cavity—allows dental teams to work more productively, without having to stand, leave the room, or take their eyes off the treatment area.
Lesson 4: Less pain = more gain
With up to 60 percent of dentists reporting physical pain at some point in their careers, more dental schools are teaching their students ergonomically correct practices. A-dec takes it a step further, designing products with smart ergonomics that encourage good posture and proper working techniques by reducing unnecessary twisting, leaning and reaching.
A-dec dental stools keep clinicians positioned in a healthy “athletic” stance. A-dec dental chairs have thin backs for rolling in close to the patient, while dual-articulating gliding headrests provide optimal access to the oral cavity. A-dec delivery systems keep handpieces within easy, natural reach during treatment.
The result? Doctors, assistants and hygienists can practice longer and more productively with less strain, fatigue and pain. A-dec’s smart ergonomics naturally boost efficiency along with comfort—making what’s good for your staff good for your bottom line, too.
Lesson 5: Do the math
If you’re feeling the pressure to get the most out of your equipment budget, it’s easy to focus on price alone. But as dental schools know, that’s only part of the total cost equation. It’s important to consider the hidden costs of ongoing maintenance, repairs, unexpected replacement, and typical product lifespan as part of the total cost of ownership.
Be sure to determine if you’ll have easy access to service parts down the road. It’s probably not something you’re thinking about at the time of purchase, but it can make all the difference between a quick, inexpensive repair and having to replace an entire chair or delivery system.
As you look at your options, consider everything that goes into getting the best return on your investment. DSOs that do the math find that A-dec’s high quality, proven performance, and exceptional long-term reliability make it a wise choice.
Lesson 6: Choose the right partner
Dental schools—and DSOs—who choose A-dec enjoy the added value of having a long-term partner dedicated to their success. A-dec has the most representatives in the field, and invests significant time and resources to train its authorized dealers, sales and service personnel—all to provide a superior customer experience.
Your A-dec Territory Manager can help with everything from clinical space planning, to providing ergonomic assessments, to training your teams on the optimal use of your new A-dec equipment. And you’ll have access to live A-dec Customer Service support by phone, 12 hours a day, five days a week.
A-dec understands what DSOs need to succeed and thrive: scalable solutions that empower your teams to work smarter, more productively, and more comfortably. That’s what fuels profitability and future growth.
