5 Main Ways to Dispose of Old Dental Chairs
Finding viable outlets for disposing of equipment that no longer serves its purpose is one of the biggest dilemmas many dentists face. Perhaps you want to dispose of or sell your old dental chairs because of upgrading, merging, or closing a facility. If your office is unsure on how to dispose of old dental chairs, this guide can help. We break down the top 5 options other practices use when beginning this process.
1. Donate Your Old Dental Chairs
Donating your unused dental equipment is a great way to get a tax break while assisting someone in need. Choose a charity that can help you in determining the fair market value of your equipment and provide a tax write-off—this may be beneficial for your deduction. Based on the state of the dental chair, you may contact a local dental school. Ask if they could use it or look for free or low-cost clinics in your area.
In addition, many nonprofit organizations will gladly accept old dental chairs. You can find public clinics, volunteer service organizations, research institutes, and dental assisting schools that would like to take your chair if you can deliver. If none of these leads yields positive results, ask for recommendations on dental forums or get information from dentists in a similar situation.
2. Sell the Dental Chair
Consider selling the dental chair and deducting the profit. You add value to the used equipment market when you sell your old equipment. When you support medical and dental equipment companies, you help keep the secondhand market alive for those who cannot afford the retail price. You can deduct the current value from the original cost.
Leverage online dental communities that allow dentists to list their equipment for free such as dental town, dental society classifieds, Craigslist, or Facebook. The online dental community is massive and an excellent way to connect with others in your field. Many practices have successfully sold used dental equipment on sites like Dental Garage Sale, Nifty Thrifty, and Tacoma Quick Sale. Once you have a viable buyer, schedule a walk-through when you are not seeing patients for the new owner to inspect the chair.
3. Negotiate Removal of Old Dental Chairs When Buying New Ones
One of the primary reasons dental practices want to get rid of outdated equipment is to make room for newer, more technologically advanced units. In this case, contact your dealer and arrange for the removal of your old dental chairs. Most companies may be willing to decommission your old chair, provided you purchase a new one from them.
4. Reach Out to a Medical Clean Up or Transportation Company
There are a few healthcare product and service distributors in the United States. Companies like Patterson and Henry Schein will remove and replace old dental chairs, delivery units, and other equipment. However, this may be an option for dental offices that want to dispose of their equipment in a hurry because they charge a hefty fee depending on the job. We recommend searching for a professional company that specializes in medical or dental facility "clean ups", equipment transportation, and de-installation. Some companies may offer "dump" runs, or one-off hauling for dental and medical offices/facilities.
The last resort for disposing of your old chair is to have it properly decommissioned and recycled. This process is viable only if the chair is no longer functional, and you haven't been lucky with all the aforementioned options.
Conclusion
As a dentist, you know how costly your practice's equipment can be. Also, strict regulations governing healthcare waste make proper equipment disposal critical for dental practices.
At Tacoma Quick Sale, we offer an outlet for dental professionals looking to appraise, haul, sell, or donate their unused assets. Onsite transportation throughout the Washington state area is available.
Are you ready to dispose of your dental chair? Contact us today for a quote or more information on this subject.