Working in the dental industry today means taking on a responsibility for everyone’s health and self-esteem.

A beautiful smile can have a long-term social impact, from an increased probability of promotion to more self-worth. On the other hand, an excess of cavities can affect a child’s attendance rate at school. It’s a constant back and forth of good and bad with dental hygiene…and something that needs the best equipment possible to manage. No matter what you’ve got on your plate this month, make a note to check in with your lab equipment supplier. There’s always another piece of equipment that needs replacing or upgrading.

From NSK tools and accessories to the Ohaus food scale, it’s all in a day’s work.

The field of dentistry is widely considered to be among the 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States today. Employment for dentists is also expected to grow pretty high, to boot — recent projections have estimated a 20% increase between 2019 and 2025, much faster than normal for most occupations. It’s not hard to see where these increases are coming from. More Americans than ever are struggling with cavities, impacted wisdom teeth, and periodontal disease. Cosmetic dentistry is no slouch, either.

The field of cosmetic dentistry is to add an extra layer of polish to good oral health. Teeth whitening, replacement teeth, the list goes on. Your lab equipment supplier will have more than enough tools to ensure you’re always providing your patients with the very best in modern care. Over 80% of dentists are general practitioners, while 20% are dental specialists who limit their practices to the nine recognized specialties today. While tools are not the only difference you’ll be making, they’re certainly one of the easiest.

Dental lab equipment can come used or brand new. Even used equipment has to go through a rigorous screening test to ensure it still lives up to standard, which includes (but is not limited to) cleaning and testing. By the time 2016 came around there were over 335,000 Medical And Laboratory Technician jobs in the United States, thanks to data provided by the Bureau Of Labor Statistics. Medical manufacturing industries are constantly providing today’s dental clinics with the resources they need to address the increasingly high volume of patients. It’s estimated manufacturing on the whole contributes $2 trillion to the American economy.

It’ll help to take some extra time this week to look through each piece of equipment individually and compare it to the competition. Your lab equipment supplier can provide you a checklist of the most commonly worn-out equipment found in dentist offices, too, to give you a starting point. Dental office chairs are built to last, but they can still wear out from the constant pressure. Laboratory balances, dental instruments, and analytical balances all will wear out eventually. It’s up to you to keep up with the changes.

The future is looking bright for the dental industry. You have more dental offices prioritizing quality and figuring out the weak spots in their equipment. You have more Americans actively seeking out better dental care, even if it’s just a yearly teeth cleaning session. Talk to your lab equipment supplier about any possible deals they have on high-speed dental tools or industrial lab equipment. Staying ahead of the curve means not just reacting to issues as they come, but preparing beforehand.

Take good care of your patients. Make sure they are only greeted with the best in service and equipment.