Dental inventory management - reduce costs, prevent shortages
Inventory is one of the largest controllable expenses in a dental practice - and one of the most often ignored. The clinics with the cleanest operations have a simple system, not a complicated one.
Audit what you actually use
Most clinics order based on what they used to order, not what they currently use. Start with a 30-day usage audit and you'll find the line items that are over-stocked, under-used, or duplicated.
Set par levels by item
Par levels - the minimum quantity you keep on hand - give your team a clear reorder trigger. No more 'we ran out' and no more closets full of dust.
One ordering owner
When everyone orders, no one orders. Assign a single ordering owner with par-level visibility and a weekly reorder cadence.
Vendor consolidation
Most Ontario clinics use 4–8 suppliers when 2–3 would do. Consolidate where pricing supports it and the savings compound across the year.
More from Prime DMS Insights
All articles- IPAC
IPAC compliance packages & IPAC training for Ontario dental clinics
What an IPAC compliance package actually includes for an Ontario dental clinic.
Read article - HR
Dental staff retention in Ontario - how to build a team that stays
Onboarding, contracts, culture, and the small things that keep great hygienists.
Read article - HR
Dental recruitment & onboarding training in Ontario
How to recruit, screen, onboard, and retain dental staff in Ontario - systems that work.
Read article
Want help applying this to your clinic?
Book a free consultation. We'll walk through your IPAC, training, or staffing needs and recommend next steps.