The following is a summary of a recent episode of The Orthoprenuers Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger. In this episode “Save Time and Money”, Dr. Krieger interviews Nate Hudson, a regional sales manager from Renew Digital - market leaders in certified pre-owned dental imaging. They’re joined by Mark Bacino from their sister-company Voxel Dental, the digital dental workflow experts.
Unfamiliar with The Orthoprenuers? Orthodontists often are placed in the role of business manager. Dr. Krieger founded this community to help orthodontists (who also happen to be entrepreneurs) get the most of both dentistry and business.
Now let’s dive in! Today we’re answering the question, how can an ortho practice save time and money? Well, two stand-out technologies we’ll be focused on today are doing exactly that, with huge potential for ROI. Making the investment in 3D imaging through dental CBCT and leading the pack with emerging 3D printing technology like direct-print aligners can take your time and money savings to new heights.
So? What’s involved? Dental CT scans offer unparalleled insight into patient anatomy, inclusive of both hard and soft tissue, enabling more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment planning.
Direct print aligners are an emerging 3D printing technology that enables professionals to 3D print aligners directly from an intraoral scan, saving time, money and improving the patient experience.
Of course, the costs associated with these investments can be intimidating in either case, but getting creative with saving money on the investment addresses another, broader concept in the dental industry: how to run a practice that’s flexible and adaptable, even in the face of emerging technology.
To be as direct as possible, buying certified pre-owned dental CBCT equipment can save practices tens of thousands of dollars, as Dr. Krieger was quick to point out in his podcast (Thank you, Glenn!) but there’s more to unpack here.
One of the biggest aspects of saving on the cost of an upgrade to a dental CBCT system has to do with the remaining value of your current system.
Say you’re sitting on a perfectly good (albeit aging) 2D pan/ceph system. At Renew Digital, we pioneered the certified pre-owned market for this very reason. Upgrading to CBCT could be far less intimidating if you could still maximize the value of your existing, functioning equipment.
Over 14 years since we started this business model, we’ve helped hundreds of doctors upgrade their machine by trading-in their current 2D equipment. While at the same time, saving you money on your purchase price by choosing a certified pre-owned CBCT machine to lower your initial investment without sacrificing imaging quality.
Our customers typically save between 30% and 50% off of new systems by buying certified pre-owned dental CBCT with selections from the brands dentists trust most.
Aside from the value you’ll actually save by purchasing a certified pre-owned dental CBCT system as opposed to a new one, you should also keep in mind that our representatives like Nate will work with you throughout the entire process, not just to make sure you get a system that works for your practice, but that it is installed properly (with consideration for your current network and workflows), as well as that your staff is trained and prepared to diminish the learning curve associated with the new technology.
From the podcast: It’s also interesting to take Dr. Krieger’s personal case into perspective, even though it actually doesn’t have to do with saving money on dental CBCT itself.
When he was starting out as a new orthodontist, Dr. Kreiger was working with an old first-generation pan/ceph system with a sensor plate that needed to be replaced. He wasn’t ready to invest in CBCT at the time, but we were able to supply him with a new sensor for his then-current system at a cost that saved him considerably over investing in a new unit, and by a large margin.
This dynamic is another way that buying from an experienced supplier of certified pre-owned digital dental X-ray systems (and parts) can save you money. The value of consultative experience often does have a real value, as in the case just described!
Just to put this entirely in perspective, Renew Digital is so aggressive with price savings, that in many cases, purchasing a certified pre-owned dental pan/ceph CBCT system can actually cost you less than a new 2D pan/ceph system.
Of course, dental CBCT is nothing new to the dental or ortho communities, this tech has been revolutionizing practices for decades. Even certified pre-owned!
Now, in part 2 of the podcast, we’re talking about a technology that’s recently taken off, validated and verified by orthodontists across the globe! That is 3D printing direct-print aligners.
Voxel Dental helps answer one of the most common questions that dental professionals have - “Is this technology really ready for prime time?”
Through its close collaboration with LuxCreo, a leader in 3D printing technologies, Voxel Digital can now provide a complete digital workflow that takes you from intraoral scan through case design and, ultimately, clear aligners that are directly 3D printed in-house.
LuxCreo’s iLux Pro 3D printing solution (which has numerous applications in the dental space from night guards to retainers and clear aligners) is capable of printing aligners using specially designed resins that are effective at moving teeth.
Truth be told, while the technology behind the LuxCreo system is pushing the limits of what many orthodontists thought wouldn’t be “ready” for years from now, this proprietary clear aligner resin really propels LuxCreo to the next level in terms of capabilities in orthodontia.
The LuxCreo system features the ability to design aligners with variable thickness in areas to facilitate specific movements needed to align teeth utilizing less attachments. And, the LuxCreo design software integrates with uLab for easy, one-click case submission for aligner design. Simplicity and ease-of-use are key when introducing a new technology!
Voxel Dental offers the complete LuxCreo system, with everything dentists need to start printing digital aligners. Voxel Dental also offers customers special savings on uLab design software. Voxes does not only sell the LuxCreo solution, but their years of experience in 3D printing also provides confidence that the office will easily be able to implement this new technology.
By investing in a 3D printer that is capable of direct-printing aligners, dentists can save thousands of dollars on case submission fees over the life of the system. With all of the variables accounted for, the biggest benefit of utilizing a direct print aligner is being able to skip thermoforming, rough cutting, trim cutting, and all of the labor surrounding traditional aligners.
Did this podcast get you thinking about making the investment in new technologies for your practice? Don’t stop here, get started!
For over 14 years, Renew Digital has been the leader in certified pre-owned dental imaging equipment. We’ve helped thousands of dentists save big over new list prices on X-ray, dental CBCT systems and intraoral scanners.
We also back the quality of your pre-owned equipment through a rigorous system of testing and inspection, and then give peace of mind with our comprehensive parts and labor warranty so you can be sure the equipment we install will work safely and effectively for many years to come.
Get started today by calling us at 888-246-5611 or by filling out a contact form through our website.What about direct-print aligners? We can get you connected here as well. Click the button below and let us know you heard about Voxel from the podcast. We’re happy to get you where you need to start!