What should I ask about a dental lab’s milling machines and scanners before buying?

Begin with ownership. List every milling machine, scanner, furnace and computer, and ask who owns each one. Some may be leased or tied to a service contract that continues after the sale. Ask whether any software licences are held in the seller’s name, and whether the vendor will move them to you without a fee.

Then look at use. Ask how busy each machine is and what happens when one stops. If a single mill makes most of the lab’s work, downtime is a real risk. Ask for repair invoices, tool and bur replacement habits, and how long the lab waited the last time a part was needed.

Think about people too. These machines only earn their keep when a trained technician runs them. Find out who does the scanning and design work, whether they plan to stay, and how long it took to teach them. Finally, ask what the seller expects to replace soon. Your accountant can help you plan for those costs. Ask also how the lab keeps its digital files backed up, and whether design files and client libraries are stored on the machines or somewhere separate. Losing those files would stall the work. A short conversation with the equipment vendor may also tell you how current the models are.

Key takeaways

• Confirm ownership, leases and who holds the software licences.
• Ask what happens to the lab’s output when the main mill goes down.
• Check that trained technicians will stay to run the equipment.