Even with the best preventive maintenance, dental equipment will wear out. To aid in planning for replacing equipment, the following estimates of useful life of equipment are provided. Evaluate the manufacturer warranties for the listed big-ticket items.
The estimates were developed by the Veteran’s Administration and the U.S. Army.
Dental chair |
15 years |
Operating stool |
15 years |
Dental handpiece (drill) |
3 years |
X-ray unit |
5 years |
Ultrasonic cleaner |
10 years |
Autoclave |
10 years |
Cabinets |
15 years |
Dental units |
10 years |
Air compressor |
12 years |
Vacuum system |
10 years |
Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Georgetown University