Dental equipment repair is extremely costly. It can be hard for dentists to decide when to fix their dental equipment and who to call when they need help. Knowing when to repair your dental equipment and who to go to will help you keep your overhead costs down. It will also help keep your equipment up to date and functional for as long as possible. Here, we will discuss tips on what to look for when a piece of equipment breaks. We will also help you evaluate broken equipment and determine how to get your office up and running.
The first thing to do when equipment breaks:
The first thing to do when equipment breaks is to remember exactly what happened when the equipment stopped working properly. Let’s illustrate this with an example. Everything was running smoothly in your office until you leaned back in your exam chair and it did not work.
Questions to ask to find out why your chair is malfunctioning:
- What happened in this room between patients that could have caused a problem?
- Did someone clean the room? If so, who cleaned the room?
- Did anyone come in or out of the room? If so, where did he or she walk while they were in the room?
- Did the power go out?
- Who was the last patient in the chair? Could the patient’s weight or size have caused a malfunction?
By answering these questions, you might find the solution to the problem yourself. You may be able to prevent a technician visit and costly dental equipment repair by going through what happened in the “moment of failure.”
When to call a technician:
If you cannot determine and fix the problem with your dental equipment yourself, it’s time to call a technician. When you look for a technician for your dental equipment repair, you want someone who is both trustworthy and knowledgeable.
Dentists are all too familiar with technicians who do not fix the equipment. Other technicians will stay an hour only to tell you they need to order a part and come back another day. A knowledgeable technician will isolate the problem with your dental equipment. They will also create an action plan to get your office up and running as soon as possible. True Spin Dental‘s technicians are knowledgeable in dental equipment including new and old technology. By sending qualified technicians, we minimize the time we are in your office and maximize the time you see patients.
The cost of dental equipment repair:
Major companies, such as Schein, Patterson, and Benco, hire dental technicians. Dental equipment repair technicians can also work at small local or independent businesses including True Spin Dental. Companies usually bill technicians between $150 and $250 per hour. Some companies also charge trip fees from between $25 and $100 per trip. While these costs add up, technician visits help get your office back up and running.
Technician etiquette:
You might wonder how technicians should act when they come to a dental equipment repair appointment at your office. Regardless of the company you hire, you must ensure the technician is knowledgeable and trustworthy. There are certain “red flags” to keep in mind when a technician comes to your office. If a technician spends most of the time on his phone, he likely does not know what to do, or wants to bill you for more time. Also, a technician may have ulterior motives if he tries to sell you a new piece of equipment rather than fixing what you have. If you notice these behaviors in a technician, you can call another company for a second opinion. Once you find a trustworthy technician, you can request the same technician for future dental equipment repairs.
Getting the job done:
Every dental office should prepare for when a piece of equipment breaks and needs repair. Your office can prepare by determining what happened when the equipment broke. Your office can also find knowledgeable and trustworthy technician to repair your equipment. True Spin Dental can fix anything in your dental office, but we can repair equipment more efficiently with your help.