recommendations for a dental unit

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 16:32:34 GMT

At the moment:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dental-Xray-Unit-Belmont-DX-073-Searcher-70-/252805228223?hash=item3adc5da6bf:g:ZNoAAOSwsW9YwYgY

but only if you have a tame technician to check it over, decommission and recommission.

Clearly these are buyer beware and no X-ray unit should be used without proper checking. They do tend to be quite robust machines.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:07:24 GMT

We have the im3 elite unit and it's excellent, very pleased with it, bulletproof and really well designed.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:01:23 GMT

The first one to investigate would be:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vatech-EZ-RVG-Dental-Digital-X-ray-2-Sensor-USED-intraoral-Software-holder-kodak-/171895957118?hash=item2805cc267e:g:xCUAAOSwDNdV0Lny

I like the look of the India sourced units, all under £2000 but I have to say I would have doubts regarding the authenticity of these units!

My experience is they are very reliable unless dropped! They work or they don't work!

We have a Dr Sunni unit that has functioned faultlessly for several years. Not tried to integrate it into our PMS, would be nice but not worth the hassle.

I would contact any of the X-ray suppliers to see what the best price is on a dental X-ray generator. Seem to remember ours was sourced via Photon but any used unit should be thoroughly checked out by a proper engineer.

Obviously with used equipment you take a risk but payback can be over a very short time! Alternatively go for a leased unit!

If used, make sure there is an option to return it if there are issues! I went down this route because we had enough leased stuff at that stage and I was fed up with being hit by all the added costs!

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Glenn Hodgson — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 22:21:08 GMT

We are nearly 7 years into the buttons unit. Very happy with it.

Bob, what is your 4k Dr dental xray setup? have you got a recommendation?

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Edward Jones — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 15:27:25 GMT

[quote user="Linda Filshie"]

What was the experience? Slow? Costly?

[/quote]

They tried to charge me for the warranty repair of a new scaler unit. In fairness they've issued a credit note now.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 15:22:21 GMT

PS: We have a Siemens wall mounted X-ray machine first commissioned somewhere in 1990! Still passes muster every year. We must have had it for over ten years!

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 15:18:31 GMT

I would suggest a rethink on the digital XRays. For a couple of thousand you can have a decent DR set up (£4K if you buy it through a veterinary supplier) not including dental X-ray unit.

The images are really easy to see and use and much easier to demonstrate lesions with clients. I have been know to ask clients that have had the budget dental, what the X-rays were like!

No X-rays and owners immediately (and probably rightly) suspect only half a job has been done!

A few extra pounds on a bill for decent images never seems to be a problem. The stuff will pay for itself in no time and even if you muck about with small dental X-ray film (not that cheap either) the time and effort is far too great compared to wonderful images on a screen!

One of the best value bits of kit we ever bought. Long since paid for itself and it brings a lot of extra value to vet, patient and owner.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Linda Filshie — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:17:26 GMT

We're thinking probably the Roots machine and the Burton's "starter pack" of handpieces and various bits and bobs. Digital dental XR is unlikely to happen but I've used an old film unit in the past which was perfectly adequate so if we can get hold of a cheap one which can still pass an inspection that might be a go-er.

Thanks for the input/suggestions.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Linda Filshie — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:11:33 GMT

What was the experience? Slow? Costly?

Evelyn/Bob - you've sold me on BVDA, will do forms tonight

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:09:47 GMT

Our elderly dental machine has been nursed through a few crises over the years by a very good local dental company that services human dental units. I would hate to rely on nationwide repair companies because without the machine we would go into meltdown!

All standard parts so they can usually have us up and running within a few hours! I would like the IM3 unit but our 'generic' bits and pieces machine (bought from Arnolds!!) has done us proud.

Might be worth trying someone local to see what they recommend. Our company is DESS in Southampton.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Rob Davis — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:09:24 GMT

[quote user="Edward Jones"]I would not recommend Roots following our experience of a minor repair to a scaler unit that they'd supplied only 3 months previously and had only been used a handful of times (and looked after too!).[/quote]

I am surprised to hear this - I have used Roots for a long time and have always found them excellent in every respect.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Edward Jones — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 13:02:22 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Talk to Roots www.rootsvetdental.co.uk

[/quote]

I'd hesitate to recommend Roots following our experience of a minor repair to a scaler unit that they'd supplied only 3 months previously and had only been used a handful of times (and looked after too!).

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 09:28:47 GMT

I find the International Journal Veterinary Dentistry a bit above my 'pay grade' sometimes but the BVDA journal always has something of interest at my level!

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 22:01:43 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Talk to Roots www.rootsvetdental.co.uk [/quote]

I'd second these guys - our machine is still going strong 12 years down the line, service and support always great.

[/quote]

Thirded. Although the supplied high speed broke and we ordered one from HS and its better.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Rob Loxley — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:03:45 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Talk to Roots www.rootsvetdental.co.uk [/quote]

I'd second these guys - our machine is still going strong 12 years down the line, service and support always great.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Ashley Rubens — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 19:23:49 GMT

We recently had to replace ours, and ended up with burtons standard set up, which includes a high speed handset, low speed polisher etc.

Good machine for us (6-7 dentals a week) good service from burtons.

Phone them up and do NOT pay the advertised price!

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 18:44:21 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]You could also consider joining the BVDA if not already a member![/quote]

Goes without saying!

Seriously though, BVDA is not only for people doing five root canals, four crowns, three maxillectomies , two orthodontic devices and one titanium implant every week. It's for anybody who wants to do dentistry, at the level of their choice, properly.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 18:09:46 GMT

Some machines have the LED built in. Ours is so ancient that this is not an option except using a handpiece that generated its own current to power the LED's.

I assume the cheap handpieces are designed to be (semi-)disposable. I was impressed that the unit works pretty much as well as its predecessor that was more than ten times the price.

I have looked at the IM3 units as a replacement and would be my choice. On lease these are not horrifically expensive especially if there is a good throughput of cases or you are growing the expertise in the field.

I would also push hard for dental radiography if you don't already have it! It will give you a lot of peace of mind (and potentially be very profitable if you are trying to justify it to someone else!!).

You could also consider joining the BVDA if not already a member!

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Linda Filshie — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:43:49 GMT

Thanks, Evelyn. The ahem, handpiece (I shan't even ask why not "drill" ) would be used for sectioning multi-rooted teeth and removal of periodontal bone where needed. I've loved the LED light handpieces when I've used them - definitely make it much easier to see exactly what you are doing. Good point that you can gets different parts of the package separately - thanks for pointing that out as, although it is probably common sense, I wouldn't necessarily have thought of it.

I'm working over BSAVA anyway so presence there or otherwise is not a factor.

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 15:02:02 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

I bought a high speed handpiece with 'self-generating' LED. Peanuts from Ebay but has turned out, much to my surprise, to be a great bit of kit and the light is fantastic! I only bought it out of curiosity!!

Not expecting it to last that long but has been fine for 6 months so far!

Not everything has to be that expensive!

[/quote]

It depends on what the financial adviser calls your "attitude to risk".

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Bob Russell — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 14:55:15 GMT

Not expecting it to last that long but has been fine for 6 months so far!

Not everything has to be that expensive!

RE: recommendations for a dental unit

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 14:44:35 GMT

If you're looking for a "budget" one you might as well buy the cheapest (as long as it's from a company you're likely to get good after-sale service from).

Talk to Roots www.rootsvetdental.co.uk I don't think they come to BSAVA.

What are you intending to use the air turbine, i.e. high-speed handpiece (not drill please) for?

By the way, just a reminder that, although people seem still to buy such things as packages, you don't have to. You can get the basic unit from one place and buy your handpieces of choice from somewhere else. In handpieces, swivel mounts and built-in lights make your job much easier, so you will do it better, but they cost more so are not "budget".

iM3 are the best machines for many reasons, but they are more expensive.