What Supplies and Equipment Should Practices Provide their Specialists?

We have good news: incorporating a Specialist into your practice with Alliance Dental doesn’t require high upfront costs. However, if this is your first time adding specialty services into your practice, there are some supplies and equipment you’ll need to have on hand.

When getting to know your Specialist, you’ll be having a conversation about what they prioritize: brand vs price vs quality. Certain Specialists are more particular about the brand of supplies while others might be more concerned about the particular type or quality of material. In this article, we’ll cover some of the different aspects of preparing supplies, instruments, and equipment for your Specialist.

Supplies:

Your practice should be supplying all general sundries such as bibs, gauze, anesthetics, basic instruments, and any restorative materials or liquids they may need to operate specialty. There may be certain supplies your practice will not have on hand, perhaps for sedation, for the implant motor, or certain sutures.

Alliance Dental will work with the specialist to obtain a comprehensive list of their supplies needs and provide this to you in preparation for the first treatment day. We can also provide guidance on where to purchase supplies without breaking the bank.

Instruments:

We recommend the practice consider supplying instruments, although it is definitely not required. Providing instruments will help certain practices attract more Specialists because it eases the burden of traveling. It also prevents mixing up the Specialist’s instruments with the practice’s. Practices should keep 3 – 6 instrument sets ready to go for the Treatment Day so that sterilization doesn’t hold up patient care. This comes up as a high priority for some Specialists when evaluating your practice.

• Microscope: Most Endodontists require a microscope and not all purchase one for traveling. The cost to buy one refurbished certified is only a few thousand dollars, which is an inexpensive investment for a high-performing Endodontist. (Check if your Specialist already has a scope, in which case you will only need to purchase two counter-weight stands.)

• Implant Motor & Implant Fixtures: The cost of a motor with an implant package is very affordable and most implant implant companies, including the ones we work with, are willing to toss in the motor on package deals. Most practice owners split the cost of the implant fixtures with the Specialist.

Here are some sample upfront costs for each specialty:

• Oral Surgery – $1,000

• Periodontics – $500

• Endodontics – $1,000

• Surgical Prosthodontics – $5,000

• Dental Anesthesiology – none

• Orthodontics – $5,000 to $15,000

• Pedodontics – $3,000

Going the extra mile to purchase supplies and equipment is not only helpful to your Specialist, but it will also guarantee that you stand out from other local practices. Your investment will go a long way towards providing top Specialty care to your patients, affordably and conveniently.