For newbie dentists with BDS degrees, setting up a private practice is not an easy task. Even though there are many who first want to try their hand at government or private hospitals before starting their own clinic, setting up a private clinic is the dream of every dentist. One can also opt for short-term training course to start their career. These training programs help dental graduates in honing their skills and learning various treatment procedures which they may not have learned in the dental college. The correct set of clinical skills is important for BDS graduates wanting to establish their dental practice.
There are some points that one must be aware of before plunging into a private dental practice.
Dental Instruments
The basic dental equipment such as drills, retractors, mouth mirror, dental chair and other instruments must be certified by reputed medical organizations. Special tools are required for carrying out special dental procedures. Some have been mentioned below.
Dental files, filling material, reamers, measuring gauge, cements, dental burs and others are required for root canal treatments.
Physiodispenser is required for implant surgery. This is a machine which is used to place the implant in the alveolar bone. Implant is an artificial root which supports an artificial tooth.
Crown fixing also requires some special equipment.
A good quality X ray machine is also required in a dental clinic.
Location of The Clinic
It is important to your long-term success that you choose the right location for your dental clinic. The location of the clinic must be such that it gets good visibility among the people. This helps in getting access to more and more patients. A sizable amount of patients in the early stages of the practice is beneficial. With time, the number of patients increases even further if the dentist is good at his/her job. The clinic must not be cramped with enough space for equipment, the patients and the staff. The environment of the dental clinic should not discourage the patients from visiting again.
There are many online sites these days from where information about properties for rent or sale can be easily obtained.
The Staff
A dentist needs a support staff to manage the clinic. A trained dental assistant well versed with a dental clinic is the primary requirement. Therefore, hiring a trusted dental assistant with adequate clinical knowledge is an important step in dental clinic set up. Receptionist to manage the appointments and cleaning staff to maintain the highest level of cleanliness in clinic are important.
Cost
A sizable investment is required for dental clinic set up. Apart from the cost of the dental instruments and other equipment there are other costs which need to be taken into account. These include cost of furnishings, water and electricity bills, wages for the clinic staff, monthly rent of the property, taxes, advertisements and various other miscellaneous costs. However, once the business picks up well, all the costs are covered easily with good profits for the dentist.
Maintenance
The highest quality of dental treatment can be assured by regularly maintaining the dental equipment. Dental chair, X-ray machine, delivery system and other equipment must be maintained well by trained professionals.
In order to lessen the financial cost, the dentist can set up a clinic in partnership with some other dentist. The partner can be a batch mate or someone who is also looking to establish a dental clinic. The partner must be trustworthy. Getting a website developed for the clinic and marketing it on social media platforms are also very beneficial in the current times.
Comments