Many dentists and specialists see having quality dental equipment in-house as an essential part of conducting business. Dental equipment costs are often a significant investment for practices, making this a critical purchase decision when seeking to maximize the value of your investment.
With high list prices on new equipment, many dentists are turning to alternative routes for purchasing the equipment necessary for their practice. And, many types of equipment used in a dental practice maintain value well, creating a viable market for used dental equipment. Not only is this a great way for new practices to obtain second-hand equipment and save cost, but it also helps practices who are holding onto valuable equipment get money back from their investment.
If you’ve ever purchased a used car, the used dental equipment market is very similar. Because these products are typically medical-grade it helps to ensure you’re purchasing from a reputable source, purchased either directly from another practitioner or from a certified pre-owned seller.
Whether you’re outfitting a new dental office or construction, looking to upgrade or replace an individual piece of equipment, or need a way to recoup your investment on an existing piece of equipment, used dental equipment is a great route to consider. Today, we’re sharing the top ways dental professionals can find quality used dental equipment, as well as how to compare their options.
Dealers
One of the first places many dentists go to purchase dental equipment of any variety or scale is through a reputable dental equipment dealer. Dealers are typically knowledgeable across a variety of leading brands and can guide your purchase based on your unique imaging needs.
Not all dealers work with certified pre-owned equipment. If you have experience already with a dealer, ask if they can accept your existing equipment as a trade-in towards the purchase of your new equipment. If not, there are many reputable dealers who work with certified pre-owned equipment, and can offer the same wide inventory of leading brands – all at a fraction of what you would pay for the same brand when new.
If you don’t have experience with a certified pre-owned dental equipment dealer, you may want to vet your choice based on their years of experience, customer reviews, colleagues, and referrals.
“It’s just a smart business decision,” says Lyle Miller, MBA, co-founder of Renew Digital in Atlanta. “If I can save $30,000 on an X-ray [system] that my patients aren’t going to know is pre-owned or new, why wouldn’t I do that?”
Referrals
Other doctors in your network, whether colleagues, conference attendees, or graduates of the same university, may also be able to assist you with your intraoral scanner investment. They may also be able to point you to manufacturers, models, and brands they’ve used that they like/dislike to help guide your search. And, in some cases, you may be able to purchase or sell second-hand from a referral who’s looking to upgrade.
Online
While you may not be able to complete large transactions required for most dental equipment online, the internet is a great place to educate yourself on available brands, desirable features, and current market prices. You can also compare equipment and see reviews to help guide your search. Many doctors start their research online where they can see neutral reviews from other dental professionals instead of relying on the dealer’s word only.
How to Save on Leading Dental Equipment Brands
For over 10 years, Renew Digital has been a certified pre-owned leader in dental imaging equipment. They can offer their customers the leading brands at 30-50% off new list prices, as well as often accept their used imaging equipment as a trade-in toward the purchase price.
This also allows them to offer their customers guidance on the best equipment, regardless of brand, because they carry a wide inventory of intraoral scanners, in addition to pan and pan/ceph X-ray machines and 3D cone beam (CBCT) systems. Every purchase includes installation, training, and warranty coverage – to give you peace of mind your equipment will work as intended.
Start your dental equipment purchase plan with a call to a Renew Digital sales rep at (888) 246-5611, or complete an online form here.