What’s inside:
Managing dental implant inventory across multiple clinics can be challenging when practices rely on manual inventory tracking and inconsistent workflows. This case study shows how NorthShore Center for Oral & Facial Surgery standardized dental implant inventory management across multiple locations using RFID smart cabinets, automated inventory tracking, and real-time visibility into implant usage.
NorthShore Center for Oral & Facial Surgery and Implantology operates three clinics in separate suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and is preparing to open a fourth location. The practice provides the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery and periodontology, including dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, corrective jaw surgery, same-day smile procedures, head and neck pathology, and limited cosmetic facial surgery.
RFID-enabled dental implant inventory management gives oral surgery practices real-time visibility into implant inventory, automates inventory tracking, reduces manual documentation, and standardizes workflows across multiple clinic locations. For practices performing high volumes of implant procedures, accurate inventory management helps improve operational efficiency, accountability, and product traceability.
As a multi-location oral surgery and implant practice, NorthShore was seeking a solution that would further enhance its dental implant inventory management, increase visibility across locations, and accurately capture product usage data in procedural and operating rooms.
The practice deployed three TotalSense Smart Cabinets and four Table-top RFID readers across its three clinic locations, creating a connected inventory management system that combines automated RFID tracking, digital accountability, and real-time inventory visibility for dental implants and surgical tools.
Challenge
Visibility Across Multiple Clinics
As NorthShore managed implant procedures across three clinic locations, the practice sought a more scalable approach to dental implant inventory management. The team wanted real-time visibility into inventory availability, product location, and implant usage across the organization.
Dental implant inventories often contain hundreds of product variations, sizes, and configurations that must be readily available for procedures. NorthShore needed a system capable of managing this complexity while maintaining efficiency for clinical teams.
Standardizing Dental Implant Inventory Workflows
Previously, inventory workflows varied and were often siloed by location, relying on manual touchpoints for tracking implants and surgical products. As procedure volume continued to grow, Dr. Walter Tatch, owner of NorthShore, identified an opportunity to further standardize and scale the way dental implant inventory was accessed, documented, and replenished across all clinics.
Reducing Manual Inventory Management
Manual inventory tracking required staff to spend time documenting implant consumption and reconciling inventory activity. NorthShore wanted to streamline these processes so clinical and administrative teams could work from a more consistent, accurate, and efficient system.
NorthShore’s goal was to establish a fully digital implant inventory workflow to strengthen operational oversight, enhance accountability for implant access and usage, reduce manual inventory management, and establish a scalable infrastructure that could support the practice’s continued growth.
Solution
In 2024, NorthShore implemented IDENTI’s TotalSense RFID Smart Cabinet solution to automate dental implant inventory management across its three clinics. The deployment included three RFID Smart Cabinets (two full-size and one mini) and four tabletop RFID readers that created a connected inventory management system with real-time inventory visibility and automated implant tracking.
The TotalSense Smart RFID Cabinet has built-in RFID readers and antennae, providing complete, automated inventory tracking and stock control. The system stores all product details, including expiry date, batch/lot, serial number, and manufacturer’s SKU. Each full-size cabinet has the storage capacity of up to 1,200 small packages of dental implants.
The smart cabinets introduced a digital layer of accountability for implant access and usage. Each time an implant is removed from the cabinet, it is digitally tracked and documented, creating a clear record of product movement and improving oversight across the practice.
The tabletop RFID readers provide rapid product identification and enable comprehensive product consumption tracking. Together, the IDENTI ecosystem has created a standardized digital workflow across all locations, supporting automated tracking, real-time visibility, consistent inventory management, and accurate usage records.
IDENTI for Dental Implants
IDENTI Medical provides RFID-enabled inventory management solutions designed specifically for the unique challenges of dental implant inventory management. Through its partnership with S.I.N.360, IDENTI’s solutions and workflows have been deployed in dental clinics across the United States, including specially designed RFID tags engineered for the smaller size and packaging of dental implants.
Process
How the RFID Dental Implant Inventory Workflow Works
Following implementation, NorthShore established a connected workflow for dental implant inventory management from receipt through consumption. With automated real-time tracking, implants and surgical products are automatically monitored while stored inside the smart cabinets – giving staff complete visibility into inventory levels, expiration dates, and more.
The workflow begins with inventory enrollment into the IDENTI system. Products are tracked while stored in the smart cabinet and monitored throughout their lifecycle.
After procedures, the used implant packaging and associated products are placed into collection bags, collected by a staff member, and scanned with the tabletop RFID reader. This process captures all products consumed during the procedure and creates an accurate digital record of usage.
The tabletop reader enables rapid identification of multiple products at once, streamlining consumption tracking and reducing manual documentation requirements.
With IDENTI’s solutions, the workflow tracks which products are stored, taken, and used.
Results
Standardized Dental Implant Inventory Management
Since implementing the IDENTI solutions in 2024, NorthShore has improved dental implant inventory management across its multiple locations. The practice now benefits from a more standardized digital workflow for tracking inventory, monitoring consumption, and maintaining visibility into product movement.
Accountability and Traceability
The smart cabinet workflow introduced a higher level of accountability for implant access and usage. Each implant removal is digitally recorded, giving the practice a clearer audit trail and greater confidence in inventory records.
Real-Time Inventory Visibility
Management now has visibility into inventory activity across all locations through Daily Consumption Reports and Inventory Status Reports. These reports provide actionable inventory data that helps the team understand usage patterns, review inventory status, and support more informed replenishment decisions. With access to real-time inventory data, the team can take a more proactive approach to inventory management, helping ensure products are available when needed and supporting efficient processes and continuity of patient care across all locations.
Reduced Manual Inventory Tracking
By reducing manual touchpoints and streamlining usage capture, IDENTI helps staff spend less time on inventory tracking and reconciliation. The workflow supports clinical teams with a more efficient process while giving management greater oversight across the practice.
Conclusion
As NorthShore prepares to open its fourth location, the practice is extending its IDENTI deployment to the new clinic to ensure the same standardized inventory workflows are in place from the beginning. By implementing RFID-enabled dental implant inventory management across multiple locations, NorthShore established a standardized, scalable inventory workflow that provides real-time inventory visibility, automated implant tracking, improved accountability, and consistent inventory processes as the organization continues to grow.
