by Dr Clive Rogers, The Visiting Dentist, Subiaco, WA
In 1996, I had the usual suburban practice and started visiting nursing homes to give dental check-ups to the residents. This work grew until it became the main focus of my practice. I don’t have a surgery now. As I travel constantly, visiting different nursing homes and their residents, I need to carry everything with me. I manage to fit all my general set of instruments—and everything else I may require—into a standard-sized trolley bag with wheels. It’s exactly like a bag that people take as carry-on luggage in aeroplanes.
What’s good about it
It has an extendable handle that I find very handy. On occasions, I need to take an ultrasonic scaler and a drill with me. I place both of these into camera bags and stack them on top of the trolley bag, attached to the elongated handle. It means I can just trolley all three bags along while carrying other things.
Virtually everything I carry inside my trolley bag is in boxes or plastic bags. All my individually bagged and sterilised instruments are stored in one box. I also pack an extra bag that I take when I’m not sure what may be involved or what path a treatment might take. It took about a year of trial and error to work out exactly what my bag should contain, though I’m slightly refining it all the time.
The bag has a few external pockets to keep things like protective glasses, pens and pencils, tape recorder and other sundry equipment close at hand.
My main requirement is that the interior is one large space. At one stage I thought separate compartments and pockets would be ideal but that stopped me from having the flexibility I needed.
What’s not so good
I wish the bags had bigger wheels and sturdier extendable handles.
Where did you get it
They are available at any bag store.
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This is nothing compared to my mobile surgery suitcase which has to meet the comprehensive needs of children and special needs adults for either clinical treatment or under GA in theatre in regional NSW. All consumables and instruments must be carried as theatres provide nothing dental. I am constantly worried about meeting airline weight restrictions. I could send a photo if you are interested. I have been doing this monthly for 8 years now but have maintained a large specialist practice in Sydney.
may I have Dr Clive Rogers email address.