When Upgrading Your Dental Treatment Unit
Published 18.03.2025
The lifespan of a dental treatment unit typically ranges from 8 to 20 years. In the past, these units were built to last, often serving well for 15–20 years. The technology was simpler, with less electronics involved, making them more durable.
Today, the situation has changed. With increased technological complexity and frequent use, a modern dental unit may only last around 10 years. That said, older units can still function well for conservative dental treatments until they reach the end of their lifecycle.
What to Consider When Investing in a New Dental Treatment Unit
When it’s time to upgrade, what should you keep in mind? We’ve already explored this topic in more detail on our blog.
If the external setup is in good condition and there’s no need for expansion, the decision comes down to replacing the old treatment unit.
Learn MoreA New Dental Treatment Unit
Replacing an old dental treatment unit is a completely different process compared to purchasing your first one. Many dentists make the mistake of attending industry trade shows, comparing offers from different suppliers, and choosing a model that feels right based on a special promotion. On the surface, it seems like a great deal.
However, the price quoted at a trade show can be misleading when upgrading an existing unit. These offers often don’t include installation, meaning additional costs will be added on top of the unit’s price.
The unit must also be installed in a space that meets its technical requirements, which can significantly limit the room’s layout options.
The outcome is predictable: additional project costs drive up the total price, often by 50% beyond the unit’s initial cost. And if you haven’t researched annual maintenance and the cost of essential spare parts in advance, you’ll likely end up paying even more in the years to come.
The topic of replacing a dental treatment unit is broad, so in this blog, we’ll focus specifically on installation costs.
Dental units have one or more installation points. This refers to a spot on the floor where the necessary pipes and connections emerge, including water, drainage, air, electricity, control cables, and grounding. The installation point is defined by two distances: from the back of the unit and from the side to the wall. It’s important to consider whether the unit is right-handed or left-handed. The technical setup and pipe connections are determined based on the installation point of your previous treatment unit.
What if the old installation point is in a completely different location than the new dental treatment unit requires? The pipes can certainly be extended and routed on the surface to the correct spot, but this can create an unsightly detail on the clinical room floor.
What about the cover box? The height of the cover box can be around 5-6 cm, and it will be placed directly in a frequently used walkway. Who will be the first to trip over it—yourself, the dental assistant, or your patient? And will the wastewater still flow properly down the drain afterward?
Although these types of installations are surprisingly common, they always leave me wondering. Of course, this can be understood when considering what the alternative would be.
Renovating the Clinic Room
The pipe locations need to be moved, which means digging into the concrete. Chiseling is costly, dusty, and time-consuming. The pipes can certainly be relocated to the required position for the new treatment unit, but during that time, you won’t be able to see any patients. It’s also a good idea to replace the floor covering, as the area that’s been chiselled will be missing its flooring material. Keep in mind that the entire room will need to be emptied for the duration of the project.
So, what would be the smartest approach? The most important step is to first identify and measure the installation point of the old unit.
It’s also important to understand how the dental treatment unit will actually fit into the clinic room. While any dental unit can technically be installed on top of the old installation point, this may result in, for example, only 28 cm of space between the cabinet behind the unit and the headrest of the patient chair in the working position.
Everyone can see that in such a scenario, moving behind the unit or treating the patient becomes difficult, if not impossible.
All models manufactured by Fimet Oy, including F1, Neo, Arcus, and Neo Ceiling, are designed to be compatible with any installation point.
In the F1 and Neo models, the alignment point is wide-ranging, meaning it covers the installation point of all dental treatment units.
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In the Arcus model, the unit's surface area is narrow in width but long in length, allowing for a very flexible alignment point. The pipes can also be routed from the front of the chair. In practice, this means that no installation enclosures are typically needed.
Learn MoreThere is always the option to purchase the same model as before, if it is still available on the market in an updated version.
However, if the seller understands that you’re purchasing the unit directly from them without competition, or if they believe that only their manufactured dental units are suitable for your installation point, they will likely take advantage of the situation.
