According to 96% of adults, an attractive smile can make a person more appealing to the opposite sex. When it comes to keeping that attractive smile, dentists of all kinds have to be mindful of what they buy and how it is used. When buying dental equipment for sale, including dental cabinets for their offices, dentists have the choice of either buying commercially manufactured cabinets or contacting a local cabinet-maker to both design and build a custom unit based on their preferences.

Considering the average dental practice spends $500,000 alone on structural upfit, equipment, and supplies, it is no surprise that most offices thoroughly weigh their options before purchasing new equipment. For those trying to decide whether or not to purchase manufactured or custom dental cabinets, here are some of the pros and cons of each to give you a better understanding.

Pros of Manufactured Cabinetry

• Can be purchased from multiple companies.
• Wide range of prices and options on the market.
• Standard designs service multiple needs in both treatment rooms and other rooms within the office.
• Are built to last under harsh conditions and are easily cleaned.
• If you ever need to resell a product, "name" brands have a higher resale value than custom pieces.
• Custom designs within reason are offered by many manufacturers.
• Can be easily moved to grow with or move with the practice.
• Are classified as capital investments, resulting in tax deductions for the doctor.

  Cons of Manufactured Cabinetry

• Are unable to fit rooms made outside of the typically used specifications.
• Higher cost than manufactured items.
• Design changes made at the last minute could be more expensive or inconvenient to follow through with.

  Now that you know some of the pros and cons of manufactured cabinets, let's see what the pros and cons are with custom cabinets.

Pros of Custom Cabinetry

• May be more affordable depending on the builder.
• The options for colors and finishes are endless.
• Can be built to fit even the most unusual of spaces.
• Dentists have the opportunity to be actively involved in the design process, offering suggestions and feedback throughout the entire process.
• Design changes decided at the last minute have a better chance at being addressed and quickly so.

  Cons of Custom Cabinetry

• May not last as long with long-term hard use
• Not as easy to move or relocate
• Are not tax deductible if built-in because they are classified as leasehold improvements.
• If the dentist wants to resell the product, the resale value is much lower than manufactured items' because they are made to fit a certain space.
• Special materials used to create the unit can greatly increase the cost of creating the cabinet.
• Modular styles are not typical for custom cabinets and do not allow for future expansion or modification of any kind. They are mainly stationary pieces.

  Dental equipment, including digital image equipment, dental chairs, and dental cabinets are vital, yet pricey essentials of any dental office. For this reason, dentists have to be mindful of dental equipment sales just as much the care they give to the 74% of adults who believe an unattractive smile can negatively affect their careers.