Do you have a system in your office for the management of implant parts? You probably do have some kind of systems if you are doing implant dentistry, but the real question is how well does that system work? One of the things I realized in my office is that our system, or lack thereof was costing us time and money. Making sure we had the necessary parts for implant appointments was handled without rhyme or reason, and sometimes that meant a patient was int he office and the correct parts weren’t. On the other side of the equation we had sterilization bags full of implant parts, unopened parts from the manufacturer and craft boxes full of implant parts. What finally got me was the Tupperware container full of old healing caps, something had to change.
The first thing we did was make a list of the implant parts we use and divided them into two categories, those that can be sterilized and reused and those that can’t. Next we worked with our implant company reps and with brand new craft boxes organized all of the parts we had on hand, eliminating the sterilization bags and Tupperware. Lastly we created a system for managing having the correct parts for patient appointments. When I receive a letter from a specialist that a patient is ready to restore listing the recommended implant parts I sign and date the letter and it goes to my patient coordinator. She appoints the patient and goes to our supply of implant parts, pulls out what we need for that patient and orders anything we do not have. The parts that have been set aside or ordered once a patient is scheduled are put in a lab pan with the patients name on them. The day of an implant appointment we pull the patient’s lab pan and have all of the correct parts. Implant parts that are returned to us from the lab are sterilized and placed back into inventory. Lastly other than a small supply healing caps are returned to our specialists!
LeAnn, I don’t suppose you could post some photos of the craft boxes you used and how you set them up? We are just starting into placing our own implants and are indeed starting to collect things and don’t know what to do with what – what can we keep/sterilize/reuse, what has to be tossed, etc.
Thanks!
I’ll take a photo as soon as I am back in the office!
I bought a couple of small cabinets at Lowe’s (like you would keep screws, nuts, etc in) that have 12 small pull out drawers each; mounted them on the wall in my implant room and used a label maker to mark each drawer with the size implant or type of impression coping, healing cap, etc. Have had good luck with that too.
Thanks Wes, great idea!!