business , compliances , security

Business View of Dental Marketing

November 25, 2012

Dealers / Suppliers

Definition of a Dental Supply House / Dealer

  • Supplies (60%) – Consumables, gloves, masks
  • Equipment (40%) – Chairs, units, lights 
  • Their interest in High Tech (technology – last 5 years)

Digital X-rays (current market %40, in 5 years = %100 (Cost 5 – 8 k per office)

Understanding the Dental Supply Representative (4 – 500k income, avg is 200k)

  • 60 hours week – visits clients face – to face
  • Increase territory by 10%
  • Must be on the lookout for changing market for dentist
  • Know about computer issues
  • Strong relationship with supply representative
  • Understanding the service techs – repairs chairs units lights(income $40 – 60k a year, navy / manufacturer trained). 

# 1 Schein (Sullivan Schein) (Worldwide) (NY)

  • Dental, medical, and veterinary
  • $5 billion yearly sales (6 billion), Equal to – Starbucks, Hersheys Chocolate in sales
  • Heavily partnered with the Danaher group (Digital technology) of dental companies
  • Service approximately 35,000 dental offices in the US, unknown international reach
  • Big player in digital (Practice management, X-Ray, Patient Education), Guru
  • Developing OATS for IT support (Office, Automation, Technology, Solution)
  • Still outsource much of their IT
  • Work with Dell computers to source hardware
  • Each branch to develop independent IT contractor relationships with each branch consulting company
  • CIE (Certified Integration Engineer) – program to certify the work on Dentrix software

# 2 Patterson (Nationwide) (MN)

  • Around since 1800’s
  • Mainly North America
  • $2.5 billion yearly sales
  • Heavily partnered with Sirona (Schick and ADEC) and CEREC
  • Service approximately 35,000 dental offices in the US – Only USA Presence
  • Big player in digital (Practice Management, X-Ray, and Patient Education)
  • Used to provide computers and on staff IT (fired them all)
  • Eaglesoft – practice management software
  • CAESY – patient education software
  • Now giveaway their software but IT support is non existent 

# 3 Burkhart (Regional – West Coast) (WA)

  • Mainly west coast – boutique dental supplies
  • Approximately $200 million sales
  • Privately owned by the Burkhart Family Seattle
  • Service approximately 5,000 clients
  • Selling Xcel dent (third party – new sql database – online)
  • Sells digital technology (mainly sensors, x-ray)
  • Outsource all IT

# 4 Benco (Regional – Northeast, Midwest) (PA)

  • Private owned company
  • Approximately $200 Million in yearly sales
  • Sell primarily x-ray
  • Rumored to have relationship with Kodak 
  • Not sure on their IT position 

Pearson (Regional – West Coast) (CA)

  • Small, private company that is known for low prices
  • Not a big player in digital
  • Outsource all IT 

ADC Dealers  (American Dental Cooperative)

  • Goetze Neimer
  • Atlanta Dental
  • Iowa Dental
  • Nashville Dental
  • Sell Digital X-Ray 
  • Not sure on what they do for PM, PE