Important Dental Equipment for Modern Practices

For a dental practice to function in a way that delivers optimal patient outcomes in a variety of high-volume situations, it’s essential that it is kitted out with the right equipment. Such is the pace of change when it comes to development and innovation that gone are the days when technology would largely stand still from one year to the next. Today, modern practices need to take a proactive, continuous approach to upgrading so that they can continue to offer the latest treatments and dental care pathways. 

In this article, we’re going to simplify this process by breaking down the important dental equipment that modern practices need into a few key categories.

Essential operational equipment 

The first thing we all think about when picturing a busy practice is a dental chair in the middle of the treatment room. The latest generation of chairs is fully adjustable for both patients and dentists, often with an integrated delivery system to make the experience a bit more streamlined and low-stress for the patient. This allows handpieces, air, water, and suction units to be readily available to the dentist and their assistant at all times. 

Overhead will be an adjustable operating light that can be angled, dimmed, and focused in terms of the field size that it produces. And on a dedicated work surface in the treatment room will be sterilisation equipment such as an autoclave and an ultrasonic cleaner. 

Required dental instruments and technology 

Handpieces with a variety of removable heads that operate at a range of different speeds are used in the majority of appointments. Every dentist will have their preferred size, weight, and shape of grip so that they can feel comfortable when working on fine details and making subtle adjustments. Other items, such as elevators, forceps, mirrors, and various probes of different shapes and sizes, are also essential. 

More complex equipment, such as dental lasers for soft and hard tissue procedures, is also becoming increasingly common. Practices are increasingly turning to in-house CAD/CAM systems so that they can scan, design, and then fabricate personalised crowns and veneers. These types of systems allow clinics to offer same-day treatments, and 3D printers used to create custom dentures and aligners offer much the same level of flexibility and convenience.

Recommended consumables for at-home use 

It’s also important to note that practices have an essential role to play in the way that patients care for their teeth once they get home. Dentists will often recommend that a patient start to floss after meals or change their toothpaste, but it’s the percentage of patients who follow this advice and put it into action on a consistent basis that makes the real difference. The key is to make sure there is always a ready and prominent supply of such consumables in the waiting area. If they can be bought quickly and conveniently at the reception desk, patients will be able to get everything they need from a single appointment.

Dental practice managers who take the time to source ample supplies of things like GC tooth mousse, floss, brushes, and mouthwash from trusted suppliers like Kent Express will be making a real difference. It’s about making sure that every patient leaves with both the knowledge and the items needed to take better care of their teeth in the large gap until their next appointment. Not only that, but it’s also what is needed to make sure positive patient outcomes become the norm across the board. 

Important imaging and diagnostic equipment 

Digital X-ray machines allow clinicians to see and interpret images immediately without having to be exposed to anything like the radiation doses produced by traditional X-ray machines. Not only are these systems faster and safer, but they also allow the practice operations to become significantly more streamlined. This is essential at a time when the pressure on dental practices to serve an ever-expanding population has never been greater. 

Another key development has been intraoral cameras and their ability to show patients what the dentist is seeing in real time. This type of technology has been shown to greatly improve communication between dentists and patients, owing to the fact that it allows for clear visual demonstrations without delay. By making sure that patients fully understand their issues and their options, the types of explanations that intraoral cameras now make possible greatly speed up the overall operation of the practice. Dentists can then spend a higher proportion of each appointment focused on administering treatments and delivering interventions when needed.

When a practice has all of the above in place, it will be ideally placed to make a real difference to the quality of life of all of its patients.