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There are two options when investing in modern techniques: purchase the machines and then learn how to use them or learn how to use them first and then purchase them. In this author's experience, the better option is to first get the skills, and then select the most suitable technology or specific brand for their use. Ideally, the supplier will offer the required education and future service, which continues with cooperation in regard to regular upgrades of equipment. Therefore, the best thing before making a final decision is to participate in courses where one can try several different machines and manufacturers before committing to a purchase. The intention of organizers is often to provide the widest review of available instrumentation and equipment. Following two or three days of use, it is easier to understand if some particular equipment is worth the investment.

Here are some helpful hints in deciding about equipment:

1 Better equipment is more expensive, but much more reliable, effective, and long‐lasting.

2 Better equipment usually provides a wider range of possibilities and enables a higher quality of clinical results.

3 Technical support from the supplier is invaluable. Professional representatives should advise and select the optimal equipment and its configuration to match the facility, skills, and expectations of the practitioner. During use, the practice should have continuous backup when problems occur, with prompt response, service, and substitution. From the author’s experience, the best advice is always received from those representatives who are responsible for the service of the equipment they have sold.

4 Approximately 95% of dental procedures require a professional dental cleaning. Be sure that your equipment fully covers everything necessary to perform this critical procedure.

5 Participation in a practical workshop providing a selection of different units and types of equipment is very beneficial. Apart from the previously mentioned advantages, some teachers offer their students distance follow‐up in terms of advice in consultations and other suggestions.

Table 1.1 Suggested business plan for the equipment of the dental part of a practice.

Requirements service level	Radiology	Dental equipment	Instruments and materials	Knowledge	Case log
Hygienic and diagnostic	X‐ray machine, dental oral films	Scaler and polisher	Diagnostic kit Basic surgical kit	Basic educational dental modules offered by the European Veterinary Dental Society (EVDS), American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), or dental specialists Books and other educational resources	Participation in oral health campaigns Two or three patients a week
Daily dentistry	X‐ray machine, dental oral films, or a digital system	Air‐driven dental unit with scaler and polisher	Extended surgical periodontal diagnostic kits, as well as materials corresponding to offered dental services	Selection of ESAVS or EVDS/AVDS courses Books and other educational resources	Common contact with dental patients and dental problems 20% of the week dedicated to dentistry
Enthusiast of dentistry	Dental X‐ray, phosphoric plates, or sensors in all dental sizes	National specialization requirements	National specialization requirements	Complete ESAVS courses National specialization requirements Books and other educational resources	40% of the week dedicated to dentistry
Dental specialist	Dental X‐ray, phosphoric plates, or sensors in all dental sizes	EVDC or AVDC list of requirements	EVDC or AVDC list of requirements	EVDC or AVDC diplomat Books and other educational resources	Daily contact with dental patients More than 50% of the workload dedicated to dentistry

Table 1.1 provides advice on how to make a business plan for the equipment of a dental room. The data and information listed are only estimates, and the service level presented in the first column is a subjective proposal of the author and does not carry any guarantees.

Radiography is a critical part of a dental, oral, and maxillofacial assessment. Different systems of digital radiography may deliver different speeds and accuracies of diagnosis. The quality of the equipment present at the clinic should be linked to the number of dental procedures carried out: the more are performed, the more radiographs are exposed, and so the greater the income from radiography. Simultaneous with the development of skills, the range of services that can be offered increases and a better quality of radiographs is produced.

In dental radiography, two digital systems are available: indirect and direct. Both have their advantages and limitations, and in the author's experience, at advanced levels of practice, the best solution is to have both available. Indirect radiography utilizes phosphor plates in different sizes (from 0 through 1, 2, 4, or 5) (Figure 1.18); for rabbits and rodents, one can also customize the plates to expose intraoral projections. The quality of radiographs obtained is very good, but the process of scanning takes from 20 to 40 seconds. Direct radiography uses only sizes 1 and 2, but it produces a picture in a much shorter amount of time: most systems can create an image within 1.5 seconds. An additional benefit is the possibility of adjusting the radiographic technique with the tubehead, and of performing a series of radiographs with the sensor in the same position. The former is very helpful in periodontology, the latter in endodontics.

Figure 1.18 An object (e.g., a treated tooth) can be radiographically assessed in a smaller (direct radiography) or larger format (indirect radiography). The larger format generally provides a wider perspective and makes reading easier and diagnosis more accurate. (a) is the standard #2 size of digital sensor and (b) is size 4 of the phosphoric plate.

Ideally, the screen presenting exposed radiographs should be located in a position which allows review at any moment of the procedure without additional effort.

Depending on how the facility is designed, it may be possible to integrate the digital radiographic system with the clinic database. This makes it possible to send files to the consulting room and to show them to the owner while discussing the treatment plan and estimates, or to send them by email on request.

Currently, 3D imaging plays an increasingly important role in dental and maxillofacial diagnostics. There is evidence that 3D imaging provides more and better information in terms of accurate diagnosis of oral trauma, oncology, developmental defects, and temporomandibular joint disorders (Bar‐Am et al. 2008; Ghirelli 2013; Nemec et al. 2015) (Figure 1.19). Nevertheless, investment needs to be justified according to the competence and experience of the team and their caseload.