r/Dentistry • u/DentalTek • Feb 11 '26
Dental Professional Sold and repaired dental equipment for over 20+ years — AMA about breakdowns, maintenance, and equipment costs (and costly mistakes)
Hey Reddit 👋
I’ve been a gearhead in dental for a little over 20 years, working on both sides of the aisle — selling dental equipment and repairing it in real offices.
I’ve worked with:
- Private practices, group practices, and DSOs
- New builds, expansions, and 20-year-old offices trying to keep things alive
- Chairs, delivery units, compressors, vacuums, sterilization, imaging, and “why is this beeping right now?” situations
I’ve seen:
- Brand-new equipment fail way earlier than it should
- Offices overpay for simple fixes
- Preventable breakdowns that turned into five-figure problems
- Great equipment ruined by bad installs or bad maintenance
- Cheap equipment that actually held up better than expected
Ask me anything about:
- What breaks most (and what almost never does)
- Preventative maintenance that actually matters vs. busywork
- When to repair vs. replace
- What dentists routinely overpay for
- New equipment pricing, bundles, and negotiation mistakes
- Service contracts — worth it or not?
- Red flags when buying used or refurbished equipment
- Things sales reps don’t explain and techs wish you knew
I’m not here to sell anything, name-and-shame, or give legal/medical advice — just straight, practical answers from someone who’s been elbows-deep in this stuff for two decades.
Fire away!
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u/kcalcifer Feb 11 '26
Please tell me the correct way to maintain slow speed handpieces! I worked in an office where the boss was militant about lubricating the slow speeds very liberally, meanwhile, their slow speeds had the most issues i've ever seen.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
You bet! DCI and KAVO make great lubrication machines! Can likely get used as they are fairly simple machines. The BIGGEST mistake is cleaning handpieces and handpiece tubings with Cavicide or like cleaners. NO NO NO. Use a 2x2 and alcohol for couplers and handpieces then bag and sterilize. So often when you clean with "cavicide" the product goes into the tubings/handpiece and then blows into the turbine...messing up the lubricant and leading to early turbine replacement/repair.
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u/RadioRoyGBiv Feb 11 '26
What do I do about my assistants that like to sniff the cavicide bottle?
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u/CircleTau Feb 11 '26
What's the high speed handpiece brand that you've had to service the least? In other words, which brands would you recommend that we buy so that we don't have to call Henry Schein so often? I'm partial to Star handpieces but what is your experience?
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
This day in age they are all made pretty well and should last with proper maintenance. (See my comment above). Honestly, the workhorses today are WH and Bien Aire. More costly but great track records. Also, many of the house branded "Henry Schein" handpieces are made by top manufacturers so again with proper maintenance you are getting a branded product with "Henry Schein" name.
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u/1Marmalade Feb 11 '26
Could be just less common. I get the idea, but it may not be the most reliable data.
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u/Chokrn Feb 11 '26
How do we maintain high speed low speed handpieces
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
The BIGGEST mistake is cleaning handpieces and handpiece tubings with Cavicide or like cleaners. NO NO NO. Use a 2x2 and alcohol for couplers and handpieces then bag and sterilize. So often when you clean with "cavicide" the product goes into the tubings/handpiece and then blows into the turbine...messing up the lubricant and leading to early turbine replacement/repair.
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u/tonym978 General Dentist Feb 11 '26
We have a Midmark M11 sterilizer we bought that lasted 3 months before needing a full teardown. Brass shavings in the internals. It was a post Covid era unit. Same with our Midmark chairs we have purchased during post Covid times, techs needed to come back multiple times to fix factory issues.
Our previous M11s and Midmark chairs ran for years and years without issues. Are you noticing a trend in decreased quality on new units? Was this more of a Mimark issue or kind of industry wide thing after Covid.
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 11 '26
I’m a service tech-though not the one doing the ama.
I absolutely saw and have seen a drop in quality control from 2021-2023 across the board with all manufacturers.
I’d chalk it up to older experienced workers retiring and cuts to labour force, then trying to ramp back up production with all the hiccups involved. Sometimes it’s suppliers and supply chain issues. I feel most manufacturers have moved past those hiccups but 100% there were some rough times with new equipment being sold and installed and failing either on arrival or very prematurely
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
100% agree! Quality has deteriorated for sure. That being said, to lose an M11 so soon is almost unheard of. Those are the workhorses! u/hughesyourdadddy is spot on!
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u/Thepres_10 Feb 11 '26
What’s your preferred chair brand when you take into account reliability and good value for the money?
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 11 '26
Be more specific are you referring to chair only? Or coupled with delivery unit, light etc. it makes a difference
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u/Thepres_10 Feb 11 '26
Let’s say the whole deal. I don’t care about a light at all.
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 11 '26
It can depend on a few things. Adec is expensive to maintain but it has longevity. I usually tell people they will last for 40 years and that will include being able to get parts for them.
If longevity of that range isn’t factored in I generally recommend Belmont. They’re compatible with 3rd party parts like dci and their issues are fairly simple and predictable. They’re also a safe bet to last 20 yrs
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Honestly, sort of like handpieces. Proper maintenance, they should all last 10+ years. ADEC has and alwyas will be the best in class, largely due to the fact that they literally make everything on the chair/light/unit...even the tubing! That being said, DCI edge is great too and because they made most of the parts for Pelton and Crane (Which was the industry leader forever) ya know DCI is good.
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u/AdorabbleCrate Feb 11 '26
In your opinion, which equipment worth buying brand new one and which one we can consider buying refurbished? And if you buy/sell CBCT machine, which brand would you recommend? And I would like to know for maintain and cleaning handpieces, some offices use caviwipes for the outer surface, is that actually ok? Cannot wait to hear your opinion from these.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
There are some super reputable resellers out there like Atlas resell but definitely do your homework on the used equipment you do purchase. the usual suspects for used equipment are your everyday pieces (Sterilizers, Ultrasonics). When it comes to technology I'd recommend new just do to the warranty, dealer support and technical support. Vatch and Planmeca are great for CBCT.
The BIGGEST mistake is cleaning handpieces and handpiece tubings with Cavicide or like cleaners. NO NO NO. Use a 2x2 and alcohol for couplers and handpieces then bag and sterilize. So often when you clean with "cavicide" the product goes into the tubings/handpiece and then blows into the turbine...messing up the lubricant and leading to early turbine replacement/repair.
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u/violiquekyo Feb 11 '26
I’m gonna take a picture of this unit that pisses me off every time I am in that room lol.
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u/probablynotawizard Feb 11 '26
Do you have a good preventative maintenance plan to help minimize issues? Like do X weekly, do y monthly, do z quarterly.... Thank you for doing this!
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Each manufacturer has their recommended PM programs. Where I see the biggest issues are in and around the heartbeat of the practice. Mechanical Room and Sterilization. If you were to focus PM on those areas you'd alleviate 90% of the Manic Monday when your compressor won't turn on or the sterilizer failed.
Online you can search for a PM parts list for Vac, Comp, Amalgam Sep, and Sterilizer and order once a year at a minimum for each and you'd be 90% ahead of most offices. Also, within the mechanical room...get all the extra stuff out of there (Mops, brooms, junk) those machines need to breath and remain cool. Make sure they are properly ventilated and sized correctly (Check you model number in Google and ask how many users it is designed for) "VacStar 50 Users?" 4 Users simultaneous.
Or reach out to your distribution partner "Henry Schein" and inquire as to the PM parts for each model of equipment you are wanting to care for.
Quick list I just put together:
Dental– 12-Point Inspection Checklist
Equipment Covered: Air Compressor • Vacuum System • Amalgam Separator
Air Compressor (4 Points)
☐ Inspect for excessive moisture or rust contamination.
☐ Verify air dryer operation and check desiccant condition (if applicable).
☐ Inspect intake filter and confirm proper ventilation/airflow.
☐ Confirm proper operating pressure and check for short cycling.
Vacuum System (4 Points)
☐ Check oil level and condition (wet systems).
☐ Inspect vacuum filters and exhaust mufflers.
☐ Verify suction pressure meets manufacturer specifications.
☐ Inspect for leaks, abnormal vibration, or unusual noise.
Amalgam Separator (4 Points)
☐ Check collection canister level and service threshold.
☐ Verify proper flow direction and inspect for blockages/bypass.
☐ Confirm compliance label, service date, and recycling documentation.
☐ Inspect plumbing connections for leaks or corrosion.
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u/LoLJaxk Feb 11 '26
Thanks for doing this! I am building a startup right now and talking with the big companies for equipment. The only thing I’m going to get from them are the vacuum, compressor, and rear delivery units. Looking at either AIRTEC or RAMVAC. And a DCI rear delivery unit. Chairs I’m going to get refurbished ADEC chairs will be installed by the company I’m buying from.
What would you definitely buy from one of the big companies (schien, Patterson, Benco) and what would you avoid?
Best negotiation techniques to not get raked over the coal?
Any other big mistakes you see for startups that could save a lot of money? I’m using a dental contractor who has built many offices in my area and has done work for doctors I kniw. Thanks!
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Whoa! That's a lot....here goes:
1) Congrats and DeNovo build I am sure you will crush it.
2) Great call on buying the heartbeat items from someone like Schein. The other thing I'd recommend from them is technology. Outside of that there is so much you can buy second hand. Atlas resell I have heard good things about and Renu Digital.
3) Definitely get a few quotes from other dealers. The big guys have the support AND technicians so understand there is a cost associated with that but there is also piece of mind knowing they'll support ya. That being said it doesn't mean ya need to overpay. There is so much transparency in terms of pricing online so shop but be willing to pay a little more and buy technology and heart beat items from a big dealer with service technicians. Just shop shop shop =)
AirTech is definitely the staple in the industry as well as Dental EZ in terms of mechanical room. Ya can't go wrong with DCI.
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Mar 26 '26
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u/Glass_Possibility219 Feb 11 '26
Do you recommend purchasing refurbished adec 511 for my dental start up? The rooms have been set up for adec previously. Or should I go for a brand new cheaper chair?
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u/WhoDoYouKnowHereB Feb 11 '26
Do you find that rear delivery systems are more reliable than Euro/Ergonomic or vise versa?
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Either are fine it is just your preference on delivery and room configuration. Few more moving parts on Euro but if maintained will last for years. 7-10 years is a good rule of thumb on mechanical equipment (Avoid Cavicide on EVERYTHING!) haha!
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u/yawbaw Feb 11 '26
I’m about to remodel my office completely and need new chairs. What is the best chair to buy after Adec
I understand it is light years ahead of any other chair but in your opinion what is the next best couple brands/chairs?
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 11 '26
Adec are great especially because they will last 40 years.
If people don’t want to spend the money I generally recommend Belmont as I think they’re a great choice and my local rep is top tier. Obviously the local rep thing doesn’t apply but it is something worth looking into. A good manufacturer rep that stands by their product is worth something.
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u/yawbaw Feb 11 '26
Any opinion on dci? A few people have told me they are up there with Belmont
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 11 '26
Nah, go Belmont before dci-unless maybe it’s hygiene.
Belmont use some dci parts or are compatible with dci parts but dci are crap and will show it’s age quickly
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u/yawbaw Feb 11 '26
Appreciate the insight.
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 11 '26
No worries! I actually have thought about doing one of these amas before in these subs but I’d rather to just chime in here and there when I see fit.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
I am more of a DCI proponent just due to parts/tech support. Belmont is good but in my opinion not as reliable. But either way you can't go wrong if properly maintained. =) As you can tell from previous posts I am a big fan of maintenance. =)
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u/hughesyourdadddy Feb 13 '26
I’m Canadian and we have a superb local rep for Belmont that goes a long way. Belmont lights X-rays and chairs are really solid. I find after that the units are just easy to predict the problems. And generally are very inexpensive parts.
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u/TheSwolerBear General Dentist Feb 11 '26
Not the OP, but we just moved and doubled in size. Bought some mid 90s adec chairs and had them re apolstered. 10/10. They are rock solid and easy to repair when needed(they don’t). We even replaced all the plastic pieces that were worn.
We did this because our repair guy said how unreliable the new chairs are. I think we got them for $1500-3000 from an online reseller. A couple we even got for free from practices
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u/yawbaw Feb 11 '26
Question you may or may not be able to answer. Could you do older chairs like that and put all new delivery units on them?
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u/TheSwolerBear General Dentist Feb 11 '26
Ahh I really don’t know. I bet it could be done, but for us, we use side delivery
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
It depends on chair make and model. Most manufacturers will make universal mounts for many different models. Contact your distributor like Schein or the Unit manufacturer directly and let them know year and model of your chair and they'll let ya know.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
u/hughesyourdadddy is right ADEC is the best. Mainly because they literally manufacture EVERYTHING on their equipment. Also, when you call their tech support, the person answering the phone stands up, walks over to the exact chair you have, at ADEC HQ and tell you exactly what to do. if you are more price conscious they DCI Edge is my go to. Great look, great quality and all parts and pieces are made in house. Most of your local distribution centers will have them for you to look at. Also, if ya talk to a dealer like Schein there are options to fly to ADEC-DCI (really close to eachother...like darn near next door and you can tour the factories and drink some great wine in Oregon! =)
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u/yawbaw Feb 13 '26
Thanks for the reply. My Schein rep told me midmark literally just came out with new stuff this week for the first time in like 20 years
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u/RedditorKris Feb 11 '26
I’m actually a small private practice beginning to look into the process of renovating an old existing office so this would be extremely helpful
• Which dental units/chairs are easily maintained and worked on by me and seem to be built to last? • What maintenance is absolutely crucial for new ops/chairs • What do dentists routinely overpay for? • New equipment pricing, bundles, and negotiation mistakes? Specifically renovating an old office mistakes? • Service contracts — worth it or not? Especially if I’m already accustomed to replacing tubing and doing minor repairs myself • Things sales reps don’t explain and techs wish you knew • What should be a rough price per sq ft to renovate an old existing office? Specifically in the Midwest area, not super high cost of living
Thank you in advance
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Okie dokie.....here we go!
1) Maintenance....maintenance....maintenance.....Most large brands will last you a long time. The work horses in my opinion are ADEC and DCI Edge (See posts above)....Belmont a distant 3rd. The biggest issue for any and all is CAVICIDE! Do not use Cavicide to wipe down everything especially NEVER on upholstery. Use chair/head covers. Only use Cavicide ro similar in areas that are soiled/contaminated and NEVER use on handpiece tubings or handpieces. Use Alcohol and 2x2.
2) Back in the day there was no pricing transparency but now with the internet it is everywhere. Heartbeat of the practice items definitely go through a distributor like Schein as they'll support ya and unlike with a downed op you can still practice but with a downed compressor you are no longer producing dentistry,.
3) Overpayment, with the availability of pricing transparency is tough if ya do your homework. In my opinion, the biggest areas of overpayment are "Subscriptions" be careful with signing up for every "pay us a few bucks monthly and we'll do this for you!" program out there. Pick one supplier for supplies and negotiate the best price. The big houses (Schein, Patterson) are SOOOOOO willing to negotiate now. End of the day, pay a fair price, get full service and support. It is 6-7% of your overhead so don't spend ALL your time there. The goal is to stay online (maintenance), and produce as much dentistry per hour as possible while providing the best patient care. (My best attempt at pretending to be a dental consultant) ha!
4) Techs are not the greatest fans of a ton of travel for mistakes you could have resolved on your own. Swapping an amalgam container, changing o-rings in a/w syringe etc. Take the time to hop online and learn a few of teh basics or at a minimum have your asst shadow the tech onsite for simple repairs so they don't have to come back and you don't have to pay. Furthermore, your asst is likely looking to do more and help more especially if they are bonused on profit or production.
5) Remodel pricing is tough to predict just given the variables. Refurb equip is helpful in keeping costs down, newer equipment for support. One piece of advice for ANY AND ALL dental professionals is to do two things.....once in awhile enter the practice the way your patients do and see what they see AND lay down in a patient chair to feel what they feel and again see what they see. It will go along way in helping with a remodel.
Phewwww........ =)
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u/thepacificnomad Feb 11 '26
I have an Indian brand dental chair here in India. It has a slow speed suction inbuilt but no hi vac. Can I add an hi vac system to the chair without taking too much space?
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u/braceem Feb 11 '26
Get a durr or Vmax. Can be placed far away. Or, if you are on a budget, get a hivac from yuwell double bottle. It's fantastic. Small enough to be put beside chair on nonworking side.
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u/snac_attak Feb 11 '26
Where can I sell my deka laser that’s barely used and actually get a decent price for it
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u/mightymolar Feb 11 '26
Midmark M11 (prev version) vs Tuttanauer EZ11: which do you think will last longer? Are all CBCTs made the same??
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
M11 without questions. CBCT's are definitely not made the same nor do they have the same support. Buy from a reputable dealer like a Schein or Patterson and look towards Vatech or Planmeca. All dealers can service them by and large where some like Carestream can only be serviced by them...makes it tough when you're in a pinch.
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u/LifeIsAwesom Feb 11 '26 edited Feb 11 '26
NSK vs Kavo style handpiece couplers? Besides that kavo is more compatible since more kavo handpieces are in circulation.
What's the best website to buy aftermarket air turbines?
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u/bobbaganush Feb 12 '26
A handpiece IS the turbine. The rest is just a metal shell. Buying non-OEM turbines is like blowing a motor in a Ferrari and putting in a Hyundai motor to replace it.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
ALWAYS buy turbines from the manufacturer. Air drivens have turbines while electrics have brushes (Some nuance here). NSK is a good brand but Bien Aire and WH are the top of the heap.
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u/purpliestnurple Feb 11 '26
What big ticket items would you absolutely recommend dentists pay for brand new over refurb? Chairs, handpieces, etc.
When/on what items is it worth it to purchase warranties (is it ever worth it?)
Have you seen a shift in the new products coming out where they're designed to fail sooner? If yes, anything in particular you recommend dentists avoid?
Thank you so much for the transparency!!
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Heartbeat of the practice (Mech room/Sterilization) I'd buy new including technology. Used if buying a backup sterilizer or in a pinch. I am a big fan of warranties IF the company guarantees quick loaners or immediate service. Properly maintained equipment really won't give ya much of a problem if you are buying quality brands. Remember, many House Brands "Schein Brand" are made by top named manufacturers =) So inquire to your dealer and they may or may not let you in on the secret =)
Haven't seen poor quality builds designed to fail sooner. Conspiracy theory =)
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u/Alpine-dental Feb 11 '26
Any advice for maintaining adec chairs. What are most common issues with them and where can I learn to repair those issue when they arise. I feel like some of the corporate people I call on have no clue how to fix anything without calling to HQ for guidance
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Not sure which model chair ya have but most do not require a great deal of maintenance other that keeping them cleaning, avoiding harsh chemicals like CAVICIDE, and using chair covers and headrest covers. CAVICIDE leaks into every nook and cranny and eats lubricants, upholstery, plastic and upholstery. Only use when contaminated/soiled.
Check for leaks monthly and avoid the yucky CAVICIDE unless necessary and you'll bee good.
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u/talonseyes Feb 11 '26
Do you have recommendations for ultrasonic machines? Our office inherited a coltene biosonic that broke down, and it cost almost as much as a brand new one as it is to repair it. We're debating whether it would be worthwhile to buy a new one or explore a different brand if there's something better to use that would be more reliable.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
This is where a refurbish may come in handy if price conscious or buy a Branded One "Henry Schein" "Patterson" as they are made by the big boys. They make them in table top or recessed.
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u/PaintedPumpkin Feb 11 '26
My office uses the Itero 5d. We have a few offices with high number of complaints of slowness during scanning. Itero support team comes and checks on the slowness, they have acknowledged the issue but says they are still unable to identify why these offices have higher issues of slowness, software updates, wand replacements, screen replacements have been done but issues still reoccur.
These offices have multiple dentists and the itero is used for restorative, implant scanning, as well as ortho purposes.
Some labs have also told us they do not accept scans from itero.
Have u experienced this yourself?
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Itero used to be one of the best however then they were purchased by Align technologies and of course haven't been the same. Trios and Prime Scan are now much better with Trios being slightly higher just due to tech support and customer service. Not a big technology know it all guy but just my experience and what I have heard through the grapevine.
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u/TheSonOfHeaven Feb 11 '26
I'm not sure you cover this but:
Some high-speed handpieces spray water weirdly, like in drops rather than a mist. It makes working through a mirror 5x harder. What causes this and how do I get it fixed?
Thanks :)
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u/Starfleet-Dentist Feb 12 '26
This is typically due to mineral deposits or biofilm clogging the internal water lines.
Get something like this. It lets you run different liquids under pressure through the handpiece to clean out the blockages. Also there are small wires that you can use to clean the spray holes near the burs.
Try not to use endo files if possible. You will create scratches, possibly damaging the handpiece if you are too aggressive.
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u/TheSonOfHeaven Feb 12 '26
Thank you, my man. Very helpful! 🙏
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u/bobbaganush Feb 12 '26
That’s one reason. It can also be just as simple as needing to adjust the air/water knobs on your delivery unit. I’d start there before buying anything.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
u/Starfleet-Dentist u/bobbaganush are right on. More often than not your chip air needing to be adjusted is available or a clog. If you do not have a handpiece cleaner then purchase one. Only wipe handpieces with alcohol and never CAVICIDE...same with handpiece tubings and it'll will blow back into the handpiece and can cause the issues you mentioned.
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u/oeluy2004 Feb 11 '26
I need a second autoclave! What’s cheap and reliable? On a budget as a new owner so I’m considering: used/refurb Tutt Ez9, Statim, EnbioS for $1k. I’ve heard the enbio breaks a lot so I’m hesitant, but man it’s just so cheap and small.
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u/DentalTek Feb 13 '26
Great question. Depends on a few things: Space available. If not an issue then M11 because you can do large and small loads. If height is an issue then Statim 2000/5000 is a great solution: PROTIP: Make sure you let items go through the drying cycle in all sterilizers. It will preserve instruments and handpieces. REMEMBER your instruments are stainLESS and not stainFREE =)
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u/brig7 Feb 14 '26
The office I bought has a newer but old style, manual knobs, zero electronics Tuttnauer (M series?). It works, I think he liked it for minimal maintenance and long term durability. Do you agree? If I were to replace it with a Statim 2000/5000 could that be my workhorse sterilizer? Mine’s a small office with the single small sterilizer that runs most the day probably
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u/Secret_secrets01 Mar 22 '26
Not OP, but you would want a statim 5000 then. The 2000 is a flat tray that fits 4-6 items. Small. The 5000 is worth it because you can actually fit more than 2 pliers in it at once. Roughly, 10-12 items. No cassettes would fit though. I currently have this issue, as a sterilizer. The Doctors were hesitant about buying a second Midmark M11 for my lab due to space. We are looking into a different brand of autoclave, a more current generation potential.
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u/Safe_Mine1987 Apr 23 '26
Do NOT use a Statim 2000/5000 as a workhorse.
Statims are meant to be use as a supplementary unit to a full sized autoclave. Sure, you can use it as one - but once a Statim starts having issues, it's a never ending money pit.
For sterilization, there's only one right answer - Midmark M11 or M9.
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u/Whasian_dds Feb 14 '26
Hello! Been scrubbing the internet for answers on refurbished or used equipment. Specifically compressors and vacuums pumps.
I have an airstar 30 inherited by the previous practice owner that said he installed it “new” 3 years ago. 6 months ago, I had water tubing burst in the vacuum pump and fried the electronics. Had it repaired but my tech told me I needed a new compressor soon (gave me a quote for $12k for a new airstar). Here’s the main issue, the compressor and vacuum pump is outside in the Arizona heat (so warranty is voided on day one in the 90°F). No room to bring them inside and to build out an air conditioned room for the new compressor, I got quoted 10-20k from various different contractors. I’m looking for solutions to buy time before I potentially move locations but I just acquired the practice.
Any suggestions? Get another airstar from a reseller like Atlas? Or is that too much of a gamble? Ideally I build it out and get a new compressor but investing that much in a build just to leave would suck.
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u/yourdentistsfavtech Feb 20 '26
Not the OP, but I have a ton of experience with compressors and vacs. While Air Techniques makes good stuff, you would really be shooting yourself in the foot by sticking with an AirStar in your outdoor environment. The motors they’ve used on a ton of their AirStar models naturally run at one of the highest temps of any dental compressor. The new DentalEz compressors also come at a very close second for generating heat.
In simpler terms, they are very sensitive to their environment, and Arizona is unfortunately a very tough environment for any machine to keep itself cool outdoors. You definitely will need some kind of enclosure for any equipment you choose. That Arizona sun is no joke and if the water line to your vac was just a basic blue poly tube, I’m in no way surprised that it burst.
At the very minimum, you could very well purchase a pre-built shed and have some ventilation fans installed to keep airflow moving. Paint the roof of your enclosure a light color to try to minimize the heat as much as possible. That’s a much more cost effective option than a fully custom build with full AC (which really is the BEST option).
TLDR: Unless you do the fully air conditioned outdoor build, don’t pour your money into another AirStar. Check out some other brands like Tech West or even Midmark. The extreme heat outdoors is going to stress any machine, but these have been a little more reliable in high heat environments, in my experience.
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u/DentalTek Feb 23 '26
AZ is a tricky place! Compressors are always in need of adequate ventilation due to the heat they generation. Properly ventilated and sized correctly a quality brand should last 10years +. If too small, they'll cycle more often than they should, generate more heat and lose life sooner.
Atlas resell is fantastic and a great solution if you anticipate a shorter life span. I'd maybe size up a bit to lower the amount of cycling the compressor will need to do and I also agree with u/yourdentistsfavtech that any shelter with ventilation will help a bunch!
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u/LoyalT90 Feb 17 '26
What are some of the easiest repairs that we should learn to do ourselves, rather than call someone in?
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u/DentalTek Feb 23 '26
A/W syringe repairs: buy a basic o-ring kit from DCI, Swapping the amalgam separator, learn how to adjust handpiece pressure and chip air: buy via DCI Handpiece Pressure Tester Gauge, Preventative maintenance on compressor and vacuum. Manufacturer's website will have all ya info on parts and steps, Door gaskets M11 and cassette seals Statim machines.
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u/BopSupreme Feb 18 '26
Do water/sediment filters make a difference in prolonging equipment life? Do you know anyone who does stuff like out RO water instead of DI in their autoclaves for example? Should mechanical rooms always have ventilation?
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u/DentalTek Feb 23 '26
Distilled has always been the staple in a dental office. Statim sterilizers are notorious for throwing an error message if distilled water isn't used. There are distillers that can be purchased but in my experience the bottles are the easiest and are the most reliable. Mechanical rooms should ALWAYS be properly ventilated. Also, they NOT storage closets, so keep all the nonsense out of there so the heartbeat of the practice can breathe =)
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u/Good-Appointment-137 Mar 18 '26
Strictly chair (no delivery), which option would you go with based on maintenance/repair history, patient comfort and operator ergonomics: ADEC 511, DCI Series 5 or Forest 3900 Hydraulics? I've been told by a rep that Forest 3900 are good chairs but that technical service has been lacking, DCI is middle tier and ADEC is obviously a top brand.
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u/Secret_secrets01 Mar 22 '26
We have been experiencing a handpiece issue for 2 years now. We use slow speed Star Dental 20,000 rpm for motors, star dental contra angles, and straights. We had an issue with our contra's running hot, constantly replacing heads to them. Now, we had an old employee who had us lubricating them with handpiece oil. They are supposed to be lube free but once you lube them you have to continue with it.
Recently, within the last 6 months, we've bought completely new motors and contra angles. We have decided not to lube at all since they are "lube free." Same issue again. Contra's are running hot, motors are starting to sound sluggish on some. All brand new within 6 months. We've had countless meetings with Star Dental and Benco (our repair company) and no one has an answer. We are just blowing through money on handpieces and cannot figure out why for the life of us. Please help!!
I've read the handpiece manual myself and found something interesting- it states that when these issues arise to go ahead and use a small amount of handpiece lubricant! Like what?! On the lube free manual it says that! So I'm just confused and frustrated.
I feel like it's important to add that our old Star Dental handpieces we had had for 15+ years. No issues until the last year of use with those. Now with these new ones.....just bad, bad, bad. Makes me think the quality of materials they use has gone down.
We clean our handpieces with alcohol and gauze only. Pouch them and run them through the statim. Let them completely dry (while standing them up to dry so any condensation can run out. Got this tip from a repair guy.), and cool under a fan for an additional 30 mins after coming out of the statim to ensure the metal inside is no longer hot.
We have 4 locations are are sending in 12 handpieces every 3 weeks to get repaired. We thought maybe we were using them too often so we purchase more to give rest periods to some motors, contra's and straights. Hasn't helped.
Thoughts? Recommendations on other handpieces for Orthodontic offices for slow speeds? Because we've about had it. 😭
Thank you!!
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u/dentguyforlife Mar 26 '26
What are you thoughts on DCI chairs vs. Adec chairs and is there really that big a difference short and long term?
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u/Wide_Mail_1634 Apr 11 '26
The “costly mistakes” part is probably where most of the real money disappears. In the offices you've seen over 20+ years, which failure mode actually eats the most in total cost: compressor neglect, suction issues, handpiece line contamination, or chairs getting run until a PCB finally dies? curious whether the expensive part is usually the component itself or the downtime + emergency callout.
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u/Safe_Mine1987 Apr 23 '26
The majority of expenses will come from labor (unless you have a warranty or private tech).
Compressor and vacuum maintenance is paramount and negligence will result in premature failure which will be costly. Think about it. If one (1) of your operatories goes down, you can still see patients.
If your compressor or vacuum goes down? The entire practice is put on hold til the issue gets resolved. Depending on the issue and whether or not parts need ordered - you could be down for a couple hours to a few days+
I'll never understand Dr's or offices that purchase cheaper, older and used utility equipment to save a few dollars up front. If you do not have air or suction - you're not making money.
Invest in your practice. Understand your equipment. Respect your time and money.
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u/Key-Goal-3228 General Dentist May 19 '26
Hi, I am in a tight spot cause my Dental Unit for quite some time now will spill out water by its own once I pull them from the port(though it'l stop after 2-3 seconds gradually). It was annoying and uncomfortable because the water often hit patient's face. every single time.
With my local technician, he said the solenoid valve membrance(smth like rubber I think) might need to be replaced. But it was tricky for me since the shop only had a limited stock and quite pricy. Since the part itself look like a small square rubber with holes I was thinking about alternative, technician said it was a rubber also with fiber. I wonder what to do.
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u/ReadyVegtables Aug 04 '26
Im trying to start my own handpiece repair company and im trying to acquire customers (dentists) to use our services. Whats the best ways to acquire such customers?
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u/Competitive_Fly_7017 Feb 11 '26
You should put this on YouTube and start a course. Teach doctors to fix their own stuff