The Total Color Code System
Good order is the foundation of all things
-Edmund Burke
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.
According to Gary Kadi of Next Level Practice (a New York-based
practice management consulting firm), approximately 3% to 5% of
dental practices employ organizational systems and methodology
effectively. The other 95%-97% of offices are at odds or still coming
to terms with such management strategies.

Time is everything...
How many working hours do you think are spent...
• Searching for instruments and materials?
• Reprocessing/sterilizing hand, bur and endo
instruments?
• Managing inventory?
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Introduction of Dr. Diether Reusch
& Partner Dental practice,
Westeburg, Germany
Practice Management Analysis
Dr. Diether Reusch identified weaknesses in the proper handling of
materials and instruments and implemented the Zirc Color Code System
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.
Overall benefits from implementing
the Zirc Color Code System:
• Improved productivity
• Improved infection control
• Reduced confusion for dental staff
• Improved patient perception
• Lowered inventory levels
• Reduced stress

Office Information
2 Locations
9 Operatories (total)
4 Doctors
1 Hygienist
4 Dental Assistants
8 Dental Aids/Help in Sterilization
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Treatment Costs
Dental Treatment Cost: $300/ hr = $5 / min.
Hygiene Treatment: $120/ hr = $2 / min.
Cost of Materials per Year
In Total: $80,000
Employee Payroll
In Total: $540,000
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.
More work on organization
means less mistakes, less time
wasted, more productivity and
better representation of your
practice.

Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.
Managing materials is time
consuming
Clinicians have a lot of funds tied up in
excess inventory. Practices have to pay
someone to go through each operatory
and determine what needs to be restocked.

Present Situation:
Storing of instruments and materials
In drawers located in operatory
In cabinets located in operatory
In cabinets located outside of operatory
Time consuming process to sucessfully organize procedure specific instruments and materials
Procedure interuptions due to unprepared operatory
Chaos often arises while searching for and arranging the materials and instuments
Disturbance during the procedure due to frequent opening/closing of the drawers.
Contamination of stored materials and instruments due to aerosoles and contaminated hand gloves
Unexperienced team members are often overwhelmed and in need of support by the trained colleagues
Doctors are overwhelmed when not performing with usual instruments and materials
Loss of time with unplanned/emergency procedures
Special materials/accessories have to be brought out from another operatory or supply closet.
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Present Situation (2)
Disorganization and time-inefficiency in sterilization area causes delayed organization of
instruments, polisher, etc. in the procedure rooms
Time consuming training of new team members
Due to lack of time, materials are improperly organized, used and often not re-ordered.
Materials found in supply cabinet are exceeding the expiration date, because of improper first in-first
out procedure.
Inefficient inventory control
Procedure pre time (before and after), interruptions and waiting time impact the procedure time
( $2-$5 per Minute).
High practice operating cost due to increased material consumption, as well as additional person
needed during the procedures, in the sterilization area and for inventory management.
Patients observe dissorganization and interruptions = negative impact on practice perception
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Ideal Situation
Procedure room is used for patient treatment only
No storing of unnecessary instruments and materials in the procedure room
Systematized Workflow
- Implementation of work protocol
- Coordination of instruments and materials during multiple procedures
- >>> Creates calm environment during the procedure process, efficiency and quality assurance
 Set-up of the Procedure Trays and Tubs (portable drawers) from a central location in practice.
->>> Reduced preparation time:
Everything is ready and within a reach – perfectly organized – complete, sanitarily prepared
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Ideal-Situation (2)
Even in case of an unplanned procedure, the instruments and materials are completely accessible
and on-time
-No searching
-No gathering or assembly of instruments and materials
-No stress
->>> Time-saving, efficient and calmer practice atmosphere
A sanitary and efficient method to transport used instruments and materials from procedure room to
sterilization room where they are stored before: disposing of contaminated materials, cleaining and
sterilization
Time-saving organization and restock of materials in Procedure Tubs.
Simplified training of new team members.
Simplified and cost-effective re-ordering of consumable materials.
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.
Save Materials, maximize chair time, get
organized and create new strategies!

Time before Zirc Color Code
System
Time after Zirc Color Code
System is implemented
TIME – difference Time-Savings
Set-up/Break-down of the
procedure room
13 Minutes 7 Minutes 6 Minutes 6 min. x 24 Pat. X 200 days =
28.800 min./yr.
Lost time during the
procedure
18 Minutes 3 Minutes 15 Minutes 15 min. x 4 Proced. x 200
days = 12.000 min./yr.
Sterilization and Storage 13 Minutes 8 Minutes 5 Minutes 5 min. x 24 Pat. X 200 days
= 24.000 min./yr.
Material Inventory 90 Minute 30 Minutes 60 Minutes 60 min. x 200 days
= 12.000 min./yr. =
200hr (Dental Assistnat)
Cost per month before the
Zirc Color Code System
Cost per month after the
Zirc Color Code System
Cost-diffrence per month Savings
Material savings 10% $6,667 / Month $6,000 / Month $667 / Month $667 x 12 Months = $8,000
Additional human resource: $2,500 / Month $800 / Month $1,700 / Month $1.700 x 12 Months =
$20,400
Savings
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

TIME-savings Savings/Profit in € Profit % rate in treatment
time
Set-up /Break-down of the
procedure room
6 min. x 24 Pat. X 200 days =
28,800 min./yr.
28,800 min. x $5/min =
$144,000
40 $57,600
Lost time during the
procedure
15 min. x 4 Practicioner x
200 days = 12,000 min./yr.
12,000 min. x $5/min =
$60,000
40 $24,000
Sterilization and storage 5 min. x 24 Pat. X 200 days=
24,000 min./yr. =
400hr. Spent on
Sterilization
400 hr x $10/hr =
$4,000
100 $4.000
Material Inventory 60 min. x 200 days
= 12,000 min./yr. =
200hr of (Dental Assistant)
200 hr x $15/hr =
$3,000
100 $3.000
Material savings 10% $667 x 12 Months = $8,000 $8,000 100 $8,000
Additional human resource: $1,700 x 12 Months =
$20,400
$20,400 100 $20,400
TOTAL $117,000
Savings
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.

Work is hard. Distractions are plentiful. And time is short.
-Adam Hochschild
Innovation. Quality. Efficiency.