Successful dental practices, regardless of size, rely on specialized equipment that is essential to efficiently and comfortably tend to their patients’ oral health. Of this equipment, dental air compressors are one of the most important components, effectively constituting the heart of the clinic along with the dental vacuum pump. In this guide, you will learn how dental compressors work, what are the key considerations when looking at dental office compressors, and how DENTALEZ’s line of Ramvac compressors with Aeras Intel compares with other dental air compressors for sale.
Why is a Dental Air Compressor Important?
A dental air compressor is like the heart and lungs of a living being; a modern dental practice cannot run without it. The handpieces that dentists and their staff use to treat their patients’ teeth require a continuous flow of high-quality, nearly medical-grade air to make them run. The dental compressor is so vital in this capacity that some dental practices have two compressors, with one serving as a backup in case the main unit becomes inoperable or requires service. You can learn about the advantages of having two air compressors here.
Because your dental office compressor is a critical component of your practice, choosing the right one requires an understanding of the different designs available and how each part of the design affects the performance of the unit.
What is a Dental Compressor?
A dental air compressor is a machine that creates high-quality, high-pressure air, which is then delivered through specialized lines to dental operatories, where it runs the handpieces that a dentist or hygienist uses to clean and treat a patient’s teeth. It is a self-contained unit consisting of one or more motors that produce air, a radiator that cools air to help the coalescing filter remove moisture before the dryer, a drying system that takes out any remaining moisture, and a tank to store the compressed air until it is needed.
All of a dental compressor’s parts play a crucial role in running a dental practice safely and efficiently. As you might expect, dental compressor prices vary widely depending on the quality of the design.
Picking a Dental Compressor
Choosing the right dental air compressor for your practice requires several key considerations, including those related to the design of the machine and of the installation and maintenance. You can learn about common problems related to air compressor design, installation and maintenance here.
Quality of Air Output
The quality and safety of the air produced by the compressor is of the utmost importance because it is being sprayed directly into the patient’s oral cavity. Many factors can contribute to moist or impure air making its way to the patient. The best way to mitigate moist or impure air is to make sure regular maintenance is done so the dental air compressor can operate to its full potential. DENTALEZ is one of few companies to use a dual desiccant drying system. The Ramvac compressor’s with Aeras Intel dual desiccant drying system differs from a single desiccant system in that it uses some of the dry air it produces to keep itself dry and clean, allowing it to hit a -40 °C dew point, which eliminates the growth of all harmful pathogens in the air output.
Size of Practice
The size of your office (number of operatory chairs and practitioners) will determine the size and number of air compressors you will need. Remember to account for any future growth you may be planning. Generally, a compressor with a slightly larger capacity for your size will run less, offering quieter overall operation and minimal to no downtime due to overworking the compressor.
Location of Mechanical/Utility Room
The location of your mechanical or utility room will influence what level of noise is acceptable for the dental air compressor to make. Newer oilless motors produce cleaner air but are noisier than oil-lubricated motors. Many companies with dental compressors for sale promote the decibel rating of their units, but it is also important to note recovery time, which indicates how long the machine is actually running and making noise. All Ramvac compressors with Aeras Intel models have large tanks and fast recovery times, which means they run less and are quieter overall. Sound covers can be used to further muffle the sound.
Reliability
Some dental office compressors need to shut down periodically so that their drying systems can purge themselves to ensure no moisture makes its way through the system. The design of DENTALEZ’s Ramvac compressors with Aeras Intel (dual motors, dual desiccant system) allows them to be capable of a 100% duty cycle, meaning they can run nonstop 100% of the time for an extended period, if needed, which is not true for all dental compressors.
Ease of installation and Warranty
Like all complex machinery that requires significant investment, in the long run your dental air compressor’s ease of installation and warranty will provide more value and save you money over options that are only inexpensive in the beginning. DENTALEZ’s line of Ramvac compressors with Aeras Intel are easy to install because they do not require set up on your practice’s network. Using cellular technology to communicate with the outside world, they are isolated from the rest of your data, providing protection from potential hackers. Using Bluetooth technology to communicate inside your utility room, your Ramvac air compressor and vacuum pump with Aeras intel can talk to a second compressor or vacuum with Aeras Intel so your service provider doesn’t have to set up a cumbersome hard-wired connection. The Bluetooth technology also has the built-in ability to add another similar enabled device.
In addition, DENTALEZ’s 6-year warranty is the best of any dental compressors for sale today.
Smart Technology for Future Planning
When doing future planning for your dental practice, you should think about how new technologies such as RFID, Bluetooth and even artificial intelligence (AI) can help your equipment work harder, so that you can focus on your patients. For example, embedded RFID technology helps keep track of dental handpieces in your office.
DENTALEZ’s Ramvac compressors with Aeras Intel are, first and foremost, well-designed and high-quality dental compressors, but are also made more reliable and convenient through Aeras Intel smart technology, available with monitoring service subscription:
• On-board sensors and control board monitor your unit and your mechanical or utility room, communicating notifications and recommendations for preventive fixes.
• Combination of mounted touchscreen and phone-based app allows your staff or service providers to monitor and program your compressor onsite or remotely.
• 7-day programmable timer allows you to “set it and forget it,” so that the compressor does not have to be turned on and off manually every day. Smart rules also detect if you are still working past the set time, allowing another hour of use before turning off.
• Aeras Intel cloud-based platform enables automatic software updates, fixes and feature updates, allowing you to forego costly visits from your service provider.
Conclusion
Dental office compressors are a vital part of any modern dental practice yet choosing one can be an overwhelming task. Among the range of dental air compressors for sale, there are higher and lower-quality options, with prices to match. Lower-priced models may provide upfront savings, but in the long run they will likely end up costing you more than a compressor that is designed from the ground up to provide the cleanest, quietest air possible and to be reliable.
Important things to consider when choosing a dental air compressor include:
• the quality of the air output
• the size of your practice
• the location of your utility room
• the reliability of the machine
• ease of installation and warranty
• smart technology that saves time and money, allowing you to focus on your patients.
