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.
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