Protect Your Practice from Disruptions & Downtime

When it comes down to it, dental practices depend on a few vital pieces of equipment to deliver patient care, and when one of them stops working, nothing derails productivity or profitability faster.

Scott Kalniz, DDS, who has over 2 decades of experience spanning private practice and DSO leadership, describes the impact of equipment failure as just short of catastrophic.

“If the compressor or vacuum goes down, the whole office shuts down,” he said. “You can’t continue to see patients—you have to scramble to call everyone and cancel the rest of the day.”

The Cost of Going Dark

Even in the best-case scenario—where parts are available and repairs are made the same day—the practice takes a serious hit. Recent industry data puts the average dental office’s daily gross production at $10,000, while the top 10% generate nearly $18,000. According to Dr. Kalniz, whenever that revenue is lost to downtime, it’s effectively gone for good.

“Think of a dental chair like an airline seat,” he said. “If it’s empty when the plane takes off, you’ll never get that revenue back—you can reschedule a patient for another day, but they’re taking a spot that could have gone to someone else.” At a time when most offices are already stretched thin, even minor disruptions can create major challenges.

A Smarter Way to Stay Running

As Dr. Kalniz noted, “Dental offices generally don’t think about their equipment until there’s an issue.” But what if problems could be caught—and corrected—before they ever affect the practice?

The product of a partnership between DENTALEZ, UptimeHealth, and Darby Dental Supply, TotalOp is a first-of-its-kind service that provides practices with access to high-performance operatory equipment, plus the peace of mind that comes with preventive monitoring, maintenance, and repairs—all for a manageable monthly subscription.

“Gone are the days when a practice unexpectedly gets hit with a multi-thousand-dollar repair bill,” Dr. Kalniz said. “TotalOp simplifies the entire process of equipment management, so offices can focus on providing outstanding care.”

Aeras Intel in Action

TotalOp outfits operatories with top-of-the-line chairs, compressors, vacuums, handpieces, and other leading dental equipment. The most mission-critical devices feature Aeras Intel, a DENTALEZ smart monitoring technology that enables a uniquely proactive approach to equipment management.

“It’s an early warning system,” Dr. Kalniz explained. “If anything is even slightly ‘off,’ a software update or repair professional can be deployed before a catastrophic issue occurs and the office loses a day of revenue.”

To see the system in action, Dr. Kalniz points to the case of a large pediatric practice in the Northeast. “When their Aeras-connected device flagged an issue, DENTALEZ was immediately able to resolve it with an over-the-air update,” he explained. Operations continued without missing a beat, and the office avoided the chaos of rescheduling dozens of appointments. “The dentist was beyond thrilled,” he shared, “and the kids’ parents never even knew their schedules were almost completely disrupted.”

From Overhead to Opportunity

TotalOp’s subscription model also offers a financial edge over traditional equipment ownership. “Almost every dental office has a room they’ve been wanting to equip but haven’t,” Dr. Kalniz explained. “TotalOp lets you install the latest equipment without worrying about large upfront costs or unexpected repair bills.”

With immediate returns at an affordable monthly cost, Dr. Kalniz illustrates how upgrading with TotalOp can boost a practice’s bottom line. “The typical operatory generates anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 in annual revenue, with margins around 20%,” he shared. “That translates to an additional $60,000 to $100,000 in profit. At a typical practice, that could add $500,000 to $1 million of additional enterprise value.”

It’s not difficult to see why TotalOp makes capital planning easier and practice growth possible.

Built for What’s Next

On the horizon, the smart technology behind TotalOp opens the door to even more opportunities. Dr. Kalniz offers the example of chair-level data that could soon provide everything from patient health biometrics to insights into practice efficiency. “If you look at the future of where this technology can go,” he said, “it’s unbelievable.”

For now, though, the case is compelling enough. “In this competitive environment, having the most up-to-date equipment is a must,” Dr. Kalniz said. “Whether you’re an individual dentist looking to grow or sell your business, or a DSO that wants to attract and retain talent, TotalOp makes it easy to upgrade your equipment and rejuvenate your practice.”