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Breaking Free from Dental Supply Ordering Mediocrity: Fixing What Isn’t Broken?

by | Aug 22, 2023 | Blog, Dental Supplies & Procurement

In the demanding world of dentistry, efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to running a successful practice. Dental teams are juggling so many responsibilities that it can be hard to know what to prioritize next. A common area that can be overlooked is supply ordering. Is the traditional method really cutting it? Let’s dive into the world of dental supply ordering and explore the potential benefits of shaking things up.

 

The Status Quo: Mediocrity in Dental Supply Ordering

For years, dental practices have followed a predictable routine when it comes to ordering supplies. Reach out to the group of sales reps that you work with, tell them what you need, accept whatever prices they quote, and manage all the follow-up manually on shipments, returns, and payments. But does this old-fashioned approach still meet the demands of modern dentistry? It’s time to take a closer look.

 

Rethinking Dental Supply Ordering: Who Needs Change? We Do!

The saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But when it comes to dental supply ordering, sticking to the status quo could hold you back. Here’s why it’s time to think differently:

 

 

  1. Upgrade Your Inventory Management: Stocking too much or too little can throw off the entire operation. Embrace inventory management software to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.
  2. Embrace Technological Advancements: The dental industry is advancing, and your supply ordering process should too. Incorporate new technologies seamlessly and stay ahead of the curve.
  3. Save Time and Money: The old way may be familiar, but is it the most efficient? Automate and streamline your supply ordering to focus on what really matters – your patients and practice growth.
  4. Expand Your Vendor Options: Relying on a single supplier limits your options. Explore new vendors and negotiate better deals for your practice.
  5. Make Smarter Decisions with Data: Modernizing your supply ordering gives you valuable insights. Use data to make informed choices and manage your budget more effectively.

 

Steps Towards Improvement: Redefining Dental Supply Ordering

It’s time to break free from mediocrity and redefine the way you and your team order supplies in the dental world. Here’s how:

 

  1. Embrace Modern Solutions: Explore new inventory management software and electronic ordering platforms that revolutionize the process for your team like Torch Dental.
  2. Collaborate and Train: Get your team on board with the new approach and create a system that works for everyone.
  3. Keep Evolving: Just like patient care, your supply ordering procedures should evolve too. Regularly assess and adjust to stay on top of your game.
  4. Expand Your Vendor Network: Don’t settle for one supplier. Open up your options for better pricing and more product variety.
  5. Harness the Power of Data: Use data analytics to make smarter decisions about your supplies and budget allocation.

 

In conclusion, it’s time to break free from dental supply ordering mediocrity. Embrace change, make improvements, and stay on top of the ever-evolving dental world. The path to success starts with rethinking the way we order supplies. Let’s make it happen – Take the first step and demo the all-in-one platform for dental supply discovery, ordering, and payments – Torch Dental!

 

Torch Dental is an all-in-one dental supply management platform that helps independent dental practices order and save on supplies from multiple vendors in one place, manage inventory, and track and control their dental supply spending. Over 3,000 dental practices use Torch Dental to save time and reduce supply costs.

Torch leverages the collective buying power of 3,000+ independent practices to negotiate exclusive rates with supply vendors across 100,000+ products (rates individual practices can’t access on their own)! When you order through Torch, you’re automatically getting pre-negotiated, best-in-industry pricing, plus live promotions and real-time availability across all vendors in one place.

Practices using Torch Dental save an average of 16% on supply costs on top of already-discounted pricing, with some practices saving up to 32%. The savings come from Torch’s negotiated pricing across 25+ vendors, price transparency tools, and AI-powered recommendations that flag better alternatives. For a practice spending $5,000/month on supplies, a 16% savings equals $9,600 back per year, before accounting for the staff hours saved from manual ordering and price comparison.

Torch Dental’s platform has three core functions: Ordering Supplies— a single catalog where you can browse, compare pricing, and purchase from 25+ authorized vendors in one cart, Managing Supplies — a smart inventory dashboard that tracks your supplies, and Budgeting — tools to set spending budgets, approve orders, and analyze your supply spend over time.

Yes, single-location practices are often the ones overpaying the most, because they don’t have the purchasing volume to negotiate prices on their own. Torch Dental gives independent practices access to the same negotiated pricing and vendor leverage that large groups and DSOs have, without requiring high order volume.

Torch Dental is built for independent dental practices of all sizes and specialties, from single-location general practices to multi-location groups. We support general dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and pediatric dentistry.

Yes. Torch Dental supports multiple users per practice with customizable permissions. You can control who can browse, which users have access to each location, who can add to cart, and who can approve and place orders, so your team can participate in ordering without losing control over spending.

Yes. Multi-location practices get a centralized dashboard to manage inventory, orders, and budgets across all locations. You can view spending by location or across your entire organization, and manage user access for each site.

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