Cost-saving tips to take you further

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  Posted by: Dental Design      14th January 2023

While the heart of dentistry is undoubtedly providing exceptional quality care to patients, we always have to remember that a dental practice is also a business. At the foundation of any business is the need to be financially viable, so having a firm understanding of the business finances and keeping track of expenditures has always been vital for success.

But now, with the cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone, what are some ways that you can help save money in practice without compromising the standard of care you give patients?

Order smarter

Ordering in products for your dental practice is expensive business. As well as making sure you’re stocked with the composites, cements, adhesives and primers needed for everyday dentistry, there’s also the requirement to remain well supplied with cleaning products, PPE and other essential items to ensure that infection control standards remain high. That’s not to mention products for validating equipment, instruments and more – there’s always a long list of products needed to ensure your practice is running smoothly.

But how many of these items go to waste? Can you save money by ordering in bulk? With some products, such as gloves and face masks, for instance, you may find that ordering them in larger quantities will help save you money over time, especially as they have no expiration date. While this will require bigger storage spaces, ordering this way can result in considerable savings.

There will also inevitably be products that you order that aren’t cost effective. Are there any switches you can make to save money without lowering standards? Even if you implement something simple like changing brand of surface cleaner to a more affordable one or one that comes in a larger bottle, you’d be surprised how easy some savings can be.

Simplify your product selection

Do you often find yourself not using certain products? How many of your products do you throw away because they’ve expired? Streamlining your armamentarium and making a conscious effort to simplify the way you work can result in substantial savings in the short- and long-term.

For example, did you know that most dentists use a single shade of composite for 80% of restorations?* As such, it is a smart idea to invest in a universal composite that can cover a broad range of shade requirements. This step will save you space and money, especially as you won’t have nearly as much product wastage.

This approach can be applied to the vast array of your armamentarium. By looking at the capabilities of the products you order, consider where you can eliminate the need for certain purchases and buy other products that fulfil the function of many, helping you save money across the board.

Look at the features of your current selection

In today’s world, manufacturers are becoming more and more aware that dental products need to offer clinicians value for money. This means not only ensuring that they can produce exceptional outcomes, but also that they are easy-to-use, ergonomic and minimise waste.

Look at the products you use and see if they utilise any features that can save you money over time – and remember, choosing a product that is supported by scientific research is always a good choice, as this means it’s likely that you will avoid expensive mistakes such as needing to provide retreatment in a short time frame.

It’s also wise to look at product features and see how these can stretch your money further. Do your current products help you to implement a cost-saving workflow? 

3M Oral Care has specifically designed its solutions to not only ensure great quality dentistry, but also to be simple and affordable. RelyX Universal Cement from 3M Oral Care, for example, has a number of design features that enables it to streamline your product selection and also minimise product waste during treatment, too. Able to achieve outstanding bond strength without the need for additional primers and adehsives,* the cement also has an innovative Micro Mixing Tip that cuts cement waste by 80% compared to other standard automix systems.*

Little changes make a big difference

Ultimately, with the cost-of-living crisis impacting everyone, it’s always a good idea to see where you can save money, especially if you want to maximise your practice’s financial stability.

Although the tips outlined in this article seem minor, when you think of all of the available savings you can harness through very simple product swaps and smarter ordering, you could soon see substantial savings.

 

For more information, call 08705 360036 or visit www.3m.co.uk/Dental 

 

*3M Internal data

 

3M and RelyX are trademarks of the 3M Company. – NB to editors: this line must be included at end of editorial when published

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