As a dentist, you probably already know that one of the biggest expenses in your line of work is your dental supplies. And, unfortunately, you can't just stop buying supplies. As such, the only solution is to cut back on the costs of your supplies. The good news, though, is that there actually are several simple ways to reduce your dental supply expenses without harming the quality of your practice or the integrity of your work.
Try the Track and Reduce Technique
Something that can be really helpful is to actually track how much you spend on dental supplies. Give yourself a month or so in which you write down every single supply purchase you make and how much you spent. This is a great way to see where the majority of your money is actually going, and some of what you discover may surprise you.
At the end of the month, sit down and see if you have any unused items that you can buy in smaller quantities in the future. Also, look for other ways that you can cut costs, such as finding a cheaper supplier for the items you order the most of.
You can try this technique any time that your supply costs start going up.
Look to Your Lab
Another thing you may want to think about is whether or not you are truly satisfied with the lab that you are working with.
Is it slow? Are its costs too high? Have its prices gone up too much? If you are dissatisfied with your lab in some way or if it's just been awhile since you've changed labs, you may want to look into other options in your area.
Labs pop up very regularly, and with so many of them available, you really want to find one that is offering you the best pricing and the best quality. Furthermore, if you attempt to change labs, there's a good chance that your current lab might suddenly offer you better pricing and service.
Take Advantage of Freebies!
One final tip that may come in handy is to remember freebies! As you are probably already aware, many manufacturers, reps, and more will often give out free items to prospective customers, and you can actually accumulate quite a few supplies, 100% free, that way.
For more information on discount dental supplies, talk to a professional such as GPS Dental Products.