How to Minimize Downtime When Your X-Ray Sensor Fails

When an essential tool like your dental x-ray sensor goes down, it can bring your workflow to a screeching halt. Missed appointments, delayed diagnostics, and frustrated staff and patients can be a nightmare for your office. But with the right strategies in place, you can minimize downtime from an x-ray sensor failure and keep your practice running smoothly—here’s how.

1: Keep a Backup Sensor Ready

If your dental practice only has one x-ray sensor, an unexpected failure can be costly. It’s a good idea to invest in a backup sensor that you can use in an emergency. This way, you won’t need to reschedule appointments while the main sensor is being evaluated and repaired. 

Your backup sensor doesn’t need to be top-of-the-line—a refurbished sensor is a reliable and affordable option. At Dental Sensor Repair Experts, we don’t just fix broken sensors, we also always stock a supply of gently used x-ray sensors. If you need a backup, let us know! 

2: Know the Warning Signs of Failure

Dental x-ray sensors often start showing signs of wear before they fail completely. Warning signs include:

• Distorted or partial images
• Unusual noise/artifacts in your images
• Error messages or frequent software disconnects
• Physical damage like frayed cables or cracked housing

Catching the warning signs means you can schedule repairs at a convenient time, helping you avoid unexpected downtime from a sudden failure. 

3: Use Proper Handling and Storage

When it comes to minimizing downtime, prevention is key. Proper handling will make your sensor last longer, so be sure to:

• Use a new barrier sleeve every time
• Avoid pinching or crimping the cables
• Handle the sensor by the edges, never the cable
• Store the sensor in a clean, padded container or holder between uses
• Only use manufacturer-recommended disinfectants for cleaning

4: Create a Contingency Plan

Just like you should always have an emergency plan for evacuating your building or for urgent patient care, you should also have one for equipment failure. This may include instructions for using backup equipment, contact information for your sensor repair provider, clearly outlined roles for staff to handle rescheduling or adjusting procedures, etc. Having a written plan ensures your team knows exactly what to do the moment a failure happens. 

5: Document Your Sensor’s Behavior

It’s important to keep a log of any past issues, or changes in image quality. This can help you and your repair technician identify recurring problems, track performance issuee, and make decisions about whether repair or replacement is the smarter investment. 

6: Partner with a Fast & Reliable Repair Service

When your dental x-ray sensor fails, you need repairs from someone who understands that time is money. At Dental Sensor Repair Experts, not only do we offer free testing and rapid diagnostics, we’ll only charge you if we can successfully repair your sensor. Plus, all our repairs come with a warranty, so you can rest assured that your sensor will be working properly. 

Give us a call today or fill out our form to request a free quote and earn $100 off your first invoice.