5 Tips for Effective Dental Inventory Management

You’re a busy dentist with many things on your mind. One of the most important things to remember when it comes to your dental office is inventory management. With these five dental inventory management tips, you can keep track of your office supplies and ensure you run an efficient, productive practice.

1. Identify the Inventory Issues

Before you can solve a problem, you need to know what the problem is. The first tip for effective inventory management involves identifying any issues you and your team may face. Dental professionals might struggle with various inventory problems, including:

· Inventory levels running out too quickly

· Supplies being disorganized and hard to find

· Products expiring before you can use them

· Orders arriving too late

Once you put your finger on specific dental inventory management issues, you’re ready to find solutions. If production is your primary concern, you’ve come to the right place. At Dental Intelligence, we know the best ways to increase dental production.

2. Make a List of Supplies

Making a list of your dental supplies will help you manage your inventory more effectively. You want everyone on staff to be able to access products quickly when they need them to provide quality patient care. If you can’t find the necessary supplies, you can’t treat your patients properly.

For every item on your inventory list, from floss to dental composite, write down:

· Brand name

· Size and quantity

· Expiration date

· Storage location

3. Compare Quotes from Vendors

Many dental practices prefer to stick with one vendor for as long as possible. This commitment helps develop valuable relationships and ensures that you know what to expect from your purchases. However, switching suppliers could save you a lot of money.

Your go-to inventory supplier might not be the best option. Sure, they may have provided your dentists and dental assistants with quality products for the past however-many years. Other suppliers may offer lower rates or higher quality products, though.

Comparing quotes from vendors is an excellent way to boost your overall inventory management. With estimates from various dental suppliers who work with organizations like yours, you can get a sense of fair pricing. You can then use that information to find the right balance between quality services and costs.

4. Manage Your Inventory Using Software

Up-to-date inventory management software simplifies the process of tracking and handling supplies and allows you to focus on other aspects of your business. Pen-and-paper lists are great, but you can easily update and browse online catalogs.

Automated inventory management can save you a ton of headaches and money by avoiding human errors and completing time-consuming tasks in just minutes. Here are some specific ways in which software can help you manage your inventory:

· Tracking supply quantities, purchases, etc.

· Requesting and ordering supplies

· Importing and exporting supply data

· Sending quote requests

· Paying invoices accurately

· Confirming you received supplies

5. Determine When to Order Supplies

Knowing when to order supplies is one of the most critical aspects of dental inventory management. You should always order new supplies before you run out and your team needs them. If you order when supplies are running low, your staff must wait for them to arrive and potentially deal with a backlog of work in the meantime.

On the other hand, you don’t want to order supplies too early. If you have an oversupply of products, you might not use them before they expire. To determine the ideal time to order new supplies, consider factors such as:

· Order lead time: This is the time between when you place an order and when it arrives at your facility. Typically, the lead time takes several days—so don’t wait until the last minute to order new supplies.

· Re-order point: When your inventory levels drop below a certain point, it’s time to re-order supplies. Inventory management software can help you accurately nail down this point.

· Re-order quantity: This refers to the supply quantity you’ll need to order when your inventory reaches the re-order point. Determining how much you use and how often will help you calculate re-order quantities.

· Safety stock: You may need to order slightly more products than you typically use for emergencies and sudden spikes in demand.

Success Starts with Effective Inventory Management

At Dental Intelligence, we offer the tools and insights you need to maintain effective dental inventory management. Our team has helped many dental practices like yours grow, increasing productivity by 125%. Get started today by scheduling a demo to explore our analytics and engagement tools!

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