Ask and You Shall Recieve

Over the past couple weeks, something I have been trying is asking dental suppliers for samples of their products. If your dental school is anything like mine, we have a fair mix of tried and true products (hello EBD!) along with a limited selection of new, fun make-your-life easier products.  Short of vendor fairs, ASDA Annual Session and other local dental gatherings, the only way to get your hands on new products is either paying full price OR the alternative — directly asking the company for a few samples.  Some of my favorite products I have used in clinic have been samples.  From frameless rubber dams to new burs to wedges with a built-in shield for dropping a box of the distal of #2 when yes, there is a fully erupted #1, there are a plethora of items to be had that have never graced our clinic supply window.

Do these products make me a better dental student?  No, but they can help me be a little more efficient and it gives me a chance to start scratching the surface of what product options I will have post-graduation.  As a junior dental student, I want to use my time in dental school wisely, seeing as much as I can while still under the guidance of my professors.  Why not try and use innovative products while on that journey?

Ready to ask?  It is simple – start by sending the supplier a message — either via the “contact us” portion of their website or by emailing one of the company’s employees directly.  Expect anywhere from 2-6 weeks for delivery and violia — new swag.  Very few companies have ignored my requests because most companies realize how important it is to get their products into the hands of dental students — the future of the profession.

Shameless plug – doing this is also a great way to start building vendor relations to attract companies to your local ASDA chapter’s Vendor Fair!