The dental unit does not simply occupy the most central spot in your surgery. Its location is also symbolic, as the key element around which the different clinical activities take place.
Investing in a quality chair is therefore of strategic importance. If you plan through what is arguably your most critical equipment purchase, it will significantly reduce the likelihood of emergency maintenance, expensive downtime and interruptions to your work.
The reverse is also true, Dr Kay Kanthathas readily attests. The specialist orthodontist and group practice owner knows how frustrating it can be dealing with unreliable equipment.
Established 30 years ago, Hunter Valley Orthodontics is co-owned by specialist orthodontists Dr Steven Cave, Dr Danny Yang and Dr Kanthathas. The group has five branches across NSW in Newcastle, Maitland, Singleton and Salamander Bay, serving the Hunter region and majority of its surrounding areas.
“We were experiencing so many issues with the dental chair installed in our Maitland practice that it was becoming terribly inconvenient. Just as we were about to run out of options, we stumbled upon Louis’ path,” Dr Kanthathas recalls.
The orthodontist is referring to his encounter with Louis Rouessart from LR Dental Services seven years ago. The veteran equipment technician displayed an uncanny ability to resolve many of the practice’s pre-existing dental chair problems. Rouessart eventually became the go-to person addressing the bulk of the group practice’s equipment problems.
It was also through Louis Rouessart that Dr Kanthathas and his partners were introduced to Ampac Dental.
Ampac Dental is an international distributor of large and small European and American supplies as well as equipment, including: L&R ultrasonic cleaners, Monitex curing lights, alginate mixers, NSK handpieces, MELAG autoclaves, DCI spare parts and components. The NSW-based company is the exclusive Australasian distributor of Swident dental units, Nardi compressors and Dmega suction motors.
First of many
Dr Kanthathas’ initial visit to Ampac Dental’s Rockdale showroom in Sydney’s inner-south suburb began a trusted practice-supplier relationship and also marked the group’s first purchase of the Swident range of dental chairs.
“The chair ticked all the boxes for us. It was compact with a small foot print, yet very comfortable and easy to operate. Patient chair ergonomics is very important to us. Our patients age range from 6 to 70 so the chair must be optimised to ensure their comfort and safety. The Swident chairs do not disappoint at all,” Dr Kanthathas says.
“It’s great that the chair is also compatible with our existing NSK hand— pieces, suction tips and DCI triplex syringe.”
The dentists’ endorsement of the European make couldn’t have been clearer than their decision to purchase five more
Swident chairs over the next six years. The two most recent installations were for the Swident Friend Easy with Cart Delivery System.
Designed in Switzerland and made in Italy, the Swident Friend Easy range of dental chairs is available in either traditional or continental delivery system. Like its predecessors, the new Friend Easy cart delivery system boasts the Luzzani or DCI triplex syringe; one high speed fibre optic line; one low speed line and two additional spaces; Faro Maya LED dental light; a pneumatic foot control; and optional clean water system. The pneumatic foot pedal controls the speed and torque of handpieces, provides “spray and chip” blower function and on/off water toggle for instruments.
“The Swident Friend Easy complements our practice very well. They are very user friendly and perform reliably. We have been very pleased with our purchases over the years,” says Dr Kanthathas.
“There are good reasons why we bought six chairs over seven years.”
The group practice also purchased from Ampac Dental the Dmega Suction motor and Nardi Compressor for three of their surgeries.
“The Dmega suction units were very competitively priced compared to what was available in the market place and ticked all the right boxes for us,” the orthodontist adds.
“The compact size of the Nardi compressor and its durability and robustness – it has never let us down.”
On the ball Neither does Dr Kanthathas feel let down by Ampac Dental’s after-sales service, which he says has been nothing short of exceptional.
Given the quality of the products, in addition to Louis Rouessart’s expertise, the dentist says they rarely required the after-sales support. Nevertheless, he considers Mo and Elizabeth from the supply firm ‘trusted friends’ as well as ‘go-to equipment people’.
“They have been a great help and source of information and knowledge about the products,” he says.
“I usually phone them with a problem and they will have the solution within 24 hours. It always surprises me that they keep ready stock of all the spare parts I need and are able to ship them within 24 hours – unlike many other large firms.” Dr Kanthathas says he would unreservedly recommend Ampac Dental’s services to anyone looking for a reliable equipment seller. Asked for three words to describe the NSW company, he replies without the slightest hesitation: “Simply the best.”
