One of these necessary tools, dental autoclaves, plays a crucial role in keeping your patients healthy. Since autoclaves are involved in the sterilization of dental instruments, you simply cannot afford to invest in anything but the best. However, you should know that there are several varieties and price points of autoclaves available to suit your specific needs. Here's a quick rundown of what you should be looking for in dental autoclaves for your office: 1.The first thing you need to consider is that manual vs. automatic. Manual autoclaves are generally less expensive to buy and repair, but they take much longer to use. Automatic autoclaves cost a bit more, but they can save you tons of time and detect any malfunctions. 2.Browse dental autoclaves online Buying equipment online is preferred because you can find prices that suit your current budget restrictions. For example, the average retail cost for most handheld dental x ray unit is about $4,000 to $5,000. By searching online, you can compare and contrast different models at different prices to determine what works best for you. 3.Don't overspend Autoclaves are certainly essential to your job as a dentist, but as you know, there are thousands of other things you'll need to pay for along the way to properly stock your office. Related articles: What is the cause of toothache when you eat? How to choose high quality dental lamps?