4 WAYS PROACTIVE EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT CAN SAVE YOUR PRACTICE

Dental practice owners know that when a major piece of equipment goes down, it can take everything with it. Between pinpointing the problem, contacting patients and tracking down a technician, an office could face hours – if not days – of costly disruption. And once the dust settles, there’s usually a hefty repair bill to deal with.

Unfortunately, most practices still take a reactive approach to equipment management. By the time they realize something’s wrong, it’s too late to do anything other than take the hit. But there’s a better alternative.

Launched in June 2025, TechEdge+ is a comprehensive asset management program available exclusively to Patterson Advantage members. It combines a service plan that includes labor coverage for your most valuable equipment with a powerful cloud-based software platform, developed in partnership with UptimeHealth – a leader in preventive monitoring and maintenance technology. Here are four ways TechEdge+ enables a smarter approach.

1. ACCURATE INVENTORY & INSIGHTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Most practices have a rough sense of the equipment they own, but few have the full picture. TechEdge+ provides a comprehensive digital inventory of each asset’s make, model, serial number, purchase date, repair history and total spend – all conveniently stored in the cloud.

As Larry Fox, Patterson’s senior director of technical services, explained, having this information at your fingertips can prove invaluable – especially in an emergency. “We worked with a practice whose office tragically burned down,” Fox shared. “They came to us to figure out what they had for their insurance claim.” With TechEdge+, practices can always access their complete inventory with a single click, no matter the circumstance.

TechEdge+ also monitors each asset’s lifecycle and can even recommend whether to continue routine repairs or consider replacement. “You shouldn’t have to worry about when you bought your compressor,” Fox said. “There should be a system that says, ‘You’re reaching end of life – it’s time to start thinking about buying a new one.’” Ultimately, the insights TechEdge+ delivers drive informed decisions, greater savings and more peace of mind.

2. RESPONSIVE SERVICE &REPAIR SCHEDULING

Traditionally, getting a technician to your office means reaching out and waiting to hear back. TechEdge+ streamlines the process. Using the cloud-based platform, just select the piece of equipment that needs service or scan its barcode, and you’re immediately presented with available appointment times pulled directly from Patterson’s scheduling system.

“No more calling and waiting to hear when a technician can come out,” Fox said, “You can select the time that works best for you, right on the screen.” And in an emergency, TechEdge+ customers can call and receive the same priority service they’re accustomed to as Patterson Advantage members.

3. COMPLIANCE THAT WON’TFALL THROUGH THE CRACKS

From waterline maintenance to sterilizer spore testing, running a dental practice means managing a steady stream of recurring tasks. Despite their importance to safety and compliance, it’s easy to lose track of what has – and hasn’t – been completed. TechEdge+ brings clarity to tasking, allowing practices to assign accountability, track completion and customize workflows to their unique needs.

“When you put a process and an accountable owner behind a task, they’re more likely to get done,” Fox said. When teams have TechEdge+, they don’t have to wonder whether someone cleaned the lines or worry about losing the sheet they use to track spore tests. “All of that information lives in one easily accessible place.”

4. PROTECTION FROM DISRUPTIONS & DOWNTIME

Perhaps the most compelling case for TechEdge+ is the simplest. According to Fox, practices are 75% less likely to experience catastrophic equipment failure when they follow proper maintenance protocols. This makes proactive management the most effective way to prevent costly disruptions and downtime.

“One of our desires in launching the program was to give doctors best-in-class software that allowed them to manage the complete office – from the operatory to the roof – all in one place,” Fox said. Partnership with UptimeHealth has made this solution possible, and their expertise is backed by Patterson’s industry-leading support. As Fox noted, while an NPS score of 55 is considered “world-class” for a service organization, Patterson currently holds a score of 81. Altogether, any practice enrolled in TechEdge+ is in good hands.

To learn more about how TechEdge+ can help your practice stay a step ahead of equipment failures and downtime, reach out to your Patterson rep or visit pattersondental.com/services/repair-and-support.