How to Save Money on Dental Supplies

In this next post, I want to answer a question many new dentists ask: How much does it cost to start a new dental practice? And for seasoned dentists: How can I save money on my dental practice? Here are my best tips to save money when ordering dental supplies.

Read Time | 4 Minutes

My Background in Starting Dental Offices and Where to Minimize Debt

I successfully started two dental offices. And I’m not a dentist. If I could start and run profitable dental offices, pay dentists, then any dentist can start their own practice!

Here are the best places where you can save significant amounts of money and increase your odds of making it:

1. Supplies
2. Building
3. Equipment

Particularly, I want to focus on the costs of ordering dental supplies. This is something that seems little but can add to your tab fast.

What’s the difference between dental supplies and dental equipment?

Just to clarify, I’ll define dental supplies as smaller items you use on a day-to-day basis. Dental offices need to frequently replenish them —think gloves and anesthetics.

In another post, I defined dental equipment as bigger, investment pieces. In other words, dentists typically only purchase these one time and seldom repurchase parts for it. As an example of equipment, consider things like panoramic X-rays and dental chairs.

Where do you go to purchase dental supplies for your practice?

Do not overpay for dental supplies from Patterson®, Henry Schein®, and the other big names! Unlike the one-time expense for equipment, you pay for supplies every month you remain in business. And so, if you save $5,000 a month on supplies, you just made an extra $60,000 every year. This is money that goes right to your back pocket. Please look at your dental supplies in those terms; this is your money and it is real.

Your dental office will need everything from gloves to composite material. You can choose to purchase dental supplies at a huge premium from a major distributor’s local sales guy and enjoy that free lunch he’ll buy you, or you can choose to purchase from a discount distributor at a fraction of the cost.

It is your choice and your money. I chose an out-of-state distributor who offered supplies at a fraction of the cost with free shipping. In addition, I was also able to negotiate great prices for crowns and bridge work from a local dental lab. I can’t tell you enough how much this upfront effort of negotiating a good price is worth! I saved a ton of money that all flowed to my bottom line (i.e. by back pocket).

Which are the best online sites for dental shopping?

Here is a short list of some of my discount supply houses:

Darby Dental

darbydental.com
(800) 645-2310

Products:

• Gloves
• Crowns
• Disposable Products
• Implant Products
• Impression Trays
• Office Supplies
• Anesthetics
• And More

SourceOne Dental

sourceondental.com
(888) 239-7160

Products:

• Acrylics
• Alloys and Amalgam
• Anesthetics
• Burs
• Cosmetic
• Crowns and Bridges
• Finishing and Polishing Accessories
• Handpieces
• Impressions
• Waxes
• And More

Net32

net32.com
(800) 517-1997

Products:

• Acrylics, reline & tray materials
• Alloys & accessories
• Anesthetic products
• Articulating materials & accessories
• Burs & diamonds
• CAD CAM products
• Cements, liners & adhesives
• Continuing Education Courses
• Core materials
• Cosmetic dentistry products
• Crowns, bands & shells
• Dental health education products
• Disposables
• Emergency products
• Endodontic products
• Equipment
• Evacuation products
• Finishing & polishing products
• Handpieces
• Implant-related products
• Impression materials
• Infection control – clinical products
• Infection control – personal products
• Instruments
• Laboratory products
• Loupes, magnifiers & headlamps
• Matrix materials & wedges
• Medical syringes and needles
• Miscellaneous products
• Mixing materials
• Office supplies & accessories
• Orthodontic products
• Patient comfort & protection products
• Pharmaceutical products
• Pins & posts
• Preventives
• Retraction materials
• Rubber dam products
• Surgical supplies
• Unique gifts
• Waxes
• X-Ray products

Next Steps

You will need to equip your operatories with a delivery system and dental chairs. You will also need to purchase accessories and supplies like X-ray heads, a developer, sterilizer, computers, software, waiting-room chairs, furniture, and even artwork.

For the delivery system and other dental equipment, I ultimately found a refurbished dental supply house out of California. Before that, I had previously contacted the big equipment/supply companies and heard all their sales pitches. After my research, it was easy to compare pricing between vendors and make the best educated purchasing decisions.

But just like the major equipment items, talk to your friends about the little stuff too! Don’t be afraid to do a little pricing homework; it can be fun. Go online and find out what else is out there.

Who Should Manage Your Dental Supply Orders Moving Forward?

Also, do not give complete control of purchasing dental supplies to your dental assistant. If you do, he or she will take the free lunch from the big dental supply house and proceed to spend your practice into oblivion.

It is your practice and your money. It is OK to instruct your employees where they can and cannot purchase dental supplies. And if they are insistent on paying double the amount for supplies from a major company, you can explain to them why this is important and train them on your budget. It is your money.

Starting a Dental Clinic and Ordering Dental Supplies: Two Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I want to reiterate the two main things to minimize when looking into the costs of starting up a dental office:

Debt

Too many of my dentist friends get taken advantage of by dental vendors. They already come out of school with a lot of debt, and then go way too far into debt when they start their first office. Truly, this is a real shame and doesn’t have to be this way.

Lack of Pricing Knowledge

Just knowing that there are great sales deals out there makes a world of a difference. Don’t get overwhelmed price-hunting, negotiating for discounts, or asking around on recommendations for dental supplies. If you patiently and consistently do your research, you will find great deals and save a ton of money