Is the cost of your dental office supplies getting out of hand?

There’s no getting around the fact that you need certain supplies to keep your dental office running smoothly. But you don’t have to pay a premium for those materials.

Being strategic about how you order your dental supplies can make a significant dent in how much you spend.

The average dental practice overhead is 60% to 65%. Supplies are only one part of your overhead, but cutting your dental supply budget can decrease your overhead, which makes your practice more profitable.

Check out these five ways to cut expenses when you order dental supplies.

1. Take Control of Ordering

Ideally, you’ll have one person who handles all of the ordering. This allows you to hold that person accountable.

It also makes it easier to avoid double ordering supplies or making mistakes on orders.

Take control of the supplies your office orders. Make sure everything that goes onto the order is necessary.

Set procedures and expectations for ordering so that the person who handles it has guidelines.

2. Know Your Needs

Knowing what you actually use and how much you use in a month is important for accurate ordering.

You might quickly go through some supplies on a regular basis. Gloves are a perfect example.

Other things might not be used as quickly. Evaluate supply usage and communicate with your staff for necessary insight.

3. Look for Alternatives

It’s easy to order the same brands and types of supplies every month. But there could be alternatives that are just as good but at a lower price.

Many products could be similar no matter who produces them. Save on costs by looking for alternative manufacturers or different versions of the same product from your favorite manufacturer.

If you need new dental equipment, consider buying used equipment. Avoid equipment that’s outdated, but buying gently used equipment that’s still in excellent condition can save you money.

4. Keep an Accurate Inventory

Having an accurate inventory system ensures you order the right amount of each supply.

Having too much on hand means you’re spending more than you need. Buying in bulk is often cheaper, but if it takes you over a year to use up bulk supply inventory, you can probably save money by ordering smaller amounts.

Running out of supplies before your next order is also expensive. You might have to place a rush order, adding more costs for expedited shipping or quick delivery.

Your inventory system helps you check historical usage and the current levels of your supplies. That information lets you make better ordering decisions so you don’t overspend.

5. Assess Quality vs Cost

The cheapest option isn’t always the most cost-effective in the long run.

Look at the quality of products in addition to the cost. Paying more to get a product that works a lot better and lasts a lot longer can help your long-term supply budget.

Save Money on Dental Office Supplies

Cutting your dental supply budget can improve your overall profitability. A few changes to your ordering routine can make a big difference.

Are you looking for a new way to buy your dental office supplies? Learn more about how our system works to start saving money on the things you need.