Old town values in modern dentistry – Test

Dr Aidan Tinney’s choice of Ampac Dental isn’t just about equipment; it’s a testament to values. Explore how reliability, fairness, and genuine support have become the cornerstones of this enduring dentist-supplier relationship.

As you embark on the decision to buy a new piece of equipment, it’s tempting to focus solely on the cost factor. While competitive prices are undeniably important, they shouldn’t overshadow the significance of reliability, support, and ethical business practices. Your equipment supplier of choice should therefore be more than just a transactional partner, but rather, a collaborator invested in the success of your practice.

Dr Aidan Tinney’s smooth set-up and operation of Mudgee Dental stands as a testament to the merits of cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship with a trusted equipment supplier. His partnership with Ampac Dental exemplifies the symbiosis between trust, reliability, and exceptional customer support.

Mudgee Milestone

A rural townsperson at heart, Dr Tinney has always favoured the country over the suburbs when it comes to the location of his business. Mudgee is situated a 3.5-hour drive northwest of Sydney, via the Blue Mountains.

“Rurally, you feel more valued, with less pressure to engage in marketing and other potentially time-consuming tasks that can distract from dentistry. This allows for a pure focus on providing dental care,” Dr Tinney opines.

Armed with the practice mission of providing high quality health care to the regional areas, Dr Tinney gravitates towards cultivating long and trusted relationships with his patients, rather than the transient clientele typically lured in by Google reviews.

“We see ourselves as more than just a dental clinic. We’re part of the community, and we actively participate in local events and initiatives. We’re not just a healthcare provider but a neighbour,” Dr Tinney enthuses.

In addition to enhancing patient education, part of his reason for investing in modern tech like the Dentsply Sirona CBCT, was to deliver to the local community high-end dentistry seldom seen in Mudgee’s neck of the woods.

“It also builds a sense of trust and reliability. Trust is the foundation of any healthcare relationship.”

The Impact of Ampac

In the same token, the dentist believes that it’s imperative to establish a reliable dentist-supplier partnership for the long haul. Mudgee’s rural location posed a unique challenge in finding a reliable equipment supplier and technician willing to traverse the three-hour distance for onsite visits. Luckily for him, Mudgee happens to be one of the routes serviced by Louis Rouessart, a seasoned Dental Service Technician

Rouessart was the one who introduced the dentist to Ampac Dental. Their professional encounter commenced during Dr Tinney’s tenure as a general dentist at the Cowra dental clinic. Rouessart, the main equipment technician during those days became the go-to expert when Dr Tinney contemplated the establishment of Mudgee Dental.

Over the years, Dr Tinney’s reliance on Ampac Dental has been evident in several significant purchases as Mudgee Dental blossomed from a modest two-chair practice into a thriving five-chair establishment within just 12 months – the size of the team ballooned from two to twelve over the same period.

Acquisitions include the Swident Partner units in April 2022, three additional units in February 2023, and another acquisition in June 2023. Dr Tinney’s commitment to quality is further reflected in the purchase of the Melag Melatherm Washer in September 2023, NSK handpieces spanning from 2022 to 2023, the Teravac 6000 suction motors in 2023, and the Nardi 90L compressor acquired in 2022.

Trust and Reliability in Action

Reiterating that the working relationship with Ampac Dental was one founded on trust, Dr Tinney says the customer support didn’t waver even though a few hiccups occurred along the way.

There was an issue with the suction motor, largely due to the plumbing of the building, that was quickly resolved.

“The previous suction motor wasn’t strong enough and there was debris in the pipes. When we got the new suction motor from Ampac Dental, the sand and the grit that was in the pipes must have clogged up the suction motor,” Dr Tinney explains.

The country dentist reached out to Ampac Dental to see whether the issue could be resolved or if they needed to buy a new suction motor. Rouessart delivered a new suction motor the next day, and Mudgee Dental was back up and running.

“That’s the thing when you’re located far away from the cities, you need that trust and that reliability,” Dr Tinney says.

“I know that I can rely on the Ampac team to show up when I need them. Whereas if I were to go to some of the other suppliers, they may take two or three days because we’re small fry for them. And that was one of the reasons why I went with Ampac.”

On Point: Pricing and Patient Comfort

Dr Tinney’s decision to purchase his first Swident Partner chair last year was the result of talking to Rouessart about the latter’s extensive experience working with different chairs and brands.

“Louis just gave me his honest opinion with price points and what he thought was good value-for-money versus what was maybe overpriced,” the dentist adds.

“They are simple chairs. They’re easy to fix. They are comfortable for the patients, and they are powerful for doing the dentistry that you need to,” he confirms.

“It doesn’t take me an hour, for example, to cut through a zirconia crown like the previous chairs I’ve worked with. They are customisable to how you want them, so we put electric motors on the chairs that have served our needs well.”

In the same vein, Dr Tinney calls the Melag Melatherm Washer a “game changer” and appraises the NSK handpieces as “high quality products that allow you to do dentistry efficiently”. Together with the rest of the equipment purchased from Ampac Dental, they operate efficiently and unobtrusively in the background.

All Is Fair

Dr Tinney believes that good equipment purchases are, in the long run, much welcome stress relievers.

“They keep my dentists and staff happy and provide a level of service that goes above what is required for running a successful practice,” he adds.

“If you’ve got an issue with the chair, for instance, you’re looking at potential loss of appointments, and you’ve got to reschedule your patients. And if they can’t get to you for a week, that’s a week’s worth of patients! When your patient bookings are overfilled as they are, that can be very stressful.”

Dr Tinney also attributes the peace of mind to his pleasant interactions with Ampac Dental’s team comprising Moe and Elizabeth.

“Moe is easy to deal with and Elizabeth just gets back to you promptly,” he attests.

“The quotes are fair, and they’ve also kept them fair. I paid the same price for all the chairs. Despite buying them separately at different times, they didn’t charge me the price increases brought on by inflation.”

Using the words “reliable”, “fair and “efficient” to describe the company, Dr Tinney trots out those old town values that have defined his career choices.

“I just think that Ampac is a fair company, they are a company that I feel comfortable using, and a company that I trust,” he epitomises.

“And I just think that they (Moe and Elizabeth) are genuinely good people that are quite happy to make sure that our business grows. They look after us and we look after them – that’s what it’s about.”