Mason-Dixon Dental Repair

12/15/2025

FS: USED (Pelton) DENTAL CHAIRS, (Belmont & Faro) OPERATORY LIGHTS, (Air Techniques) COMPRESSOR & (Midmark) VACCUM PUMP-- WORKING CONDITION💛🖤❤️

09/17/2025

This old brute is back in action after an *uncommon* failure...due to several contributing root causes.

This is where many repair/service people begin the -EXPENSIVE- journey of "throwing parts" at a job, and a far more expensive cost to their reputation/business.... They either assume they know- or find a failed component, make their conclusion/dianosis, recommend said component replacement, and quote a repair price and time frame.

Early in my career, I learned that assumption usually leads to regret...i.e; broken time-lines, under-quoted/over-budget repairs, "call-back"/repeat failures....which ultimately will lead the mechanic to either humility, or total failure.

While I was teaching at a Technichal College, I made it a point to tell my new students: "The best mechanics do not assume, or profess to know everything. The best mechanics will constantly ask themselves, 'What *else* could be wrong, what may I have overlooked, what do I know, and what *don't* I know?'

Monolog cut short- the failed component found was NOT what I initially assumed upon arrival, given the complaint/symptoms exhibited. Nor was the failed part, one that I've ever in 12 years- found in a state of failure on one of these autoclave units.

After triple-checking my electrical readings- I went right to my inquisition of contributing points of excessive wear...which revealed (2) wires and their respective terminals burned causing excessive electrical resistance and excessive heat...which systematically speeds destruction everywhere.

Anyway... long live "King Tutt"... truly great machines, and my personal favorite👍

04/10/2025

💥Intra-oral interruption?💥

Forget spending $$$$...

The issue was found & fixed in 1 hr, no parts needed💯
..did I mention that hourly rate is low?

08/18/2023

A-dec? What the heck.

06/30/2023

PSA: Tissue is not a suitable electrical insulator for broken wires! 🔥🔥

12/07/2022

Sometimes, it's good to suck👍

Over time polymers in PVC & ABS degrade...rubber seals & couplers between joints dry out, and glued joints can simply become brittle and vibrate apart.

The last thing anyone needs is bio-hazardous fueled mold issue or costly water damages to develop.

Be sure to check on your trusty vacuum/suction pumps, and nip those leaks in the bud before its a H- U-G-E mess👌

11/18/2022

How's your sterilizer? 🤔
Routine maintenance, not so routine?

These dudes get very finicky, very quickly. It may SEEM like filters can wait- but they're there to protect the delicate sensors, probes, heaters, boilers, transducers, seals, pumps, sterile instruments.... and well.. you get the picture. 😅

A call came in late Wednesday evening this week about a sassy Statim 5000 G4 (previously serviced by another company).

Upon arrival the next morning, Yours Truly, pulled the error codes to find an -alarming- error 16; which I hadn't yet seen on any G4 series machines...after all, "these things are too new!", i thought... oh wait..its not 2013 anymore 😅😅😬😥 .. and a field-topping number of cycles on this ol' tank- 💥💥15,000🤯🤯🤯

Alas...I knew this code, and I knew it well from the old series of Statim Classic units, as ye Olde foe- a kiss of death by corrosion (often times) to the boiler.

Worried that very soon I'd be delivering some day-ruining type of news to my beloved client, I kept my marbles and dug in.

While yes indeed, error 16 does & can suggest/represent the same boiler-blow out as the old series-- the diagnostic process yielded a stockpile of Golden horseshoes and/or 4-leaf clovers... no multi-thousand dollar news today, nope. Those little filters tucked away down inside beneath and behind all that high-tech, high-temp goodness simply had enough and said, "no water for you, pump!..boiler...cassette...and probe!" Complete Soup-Nazi to George Costanza type of thing.

😅😅note to audience: I know I'm reaching pretty far here on this one, but I'm a mechanic, and this is dental so...😅😅

Long story - made longer... Throw some filters and stuff at your boys! They work hard, work hot and a need few sips of water, and a breath of fresh air here and there! (Right back on my roll👌😂)

Anyway this veteran disease destroyer was back up and running, earning its keep and no nervous chat for me like, "Well Dr, you can replace this one component at a cost of $x,###...but have you considered replacing this old unit?"👌

#410 #717 #702

11/10/2022

Just a friendly 🤙THURSDAY🤙reminder:
We offer *$FREE$* in-person pickup, estimates and return of all air-driven & electric handpieces!

And, chances are...we'll save you money over your normal company, while still providing a repair with quality part, complete w/ a warranty.

Give us a try and mention this post to recieve an additional 10% off your bill, should you choose to have your handpiece repair(s) performed.

10/26/2022

So, I recieved a service call yesterday from a great client and practice out of Reisterstown, MD.

Among their concerns was a chair that wouldn't recline properly...

Upon arrival, I admit...I got a bit intimidated at first glance😅...I peered into the operatory and beheld an unbeknownst (to me) model of chair dating back to the 70's. Complete w/ sturdy American cast iron framing, old-school pastel colored plastic/fiberglass covers, flat blade screws (as the majority), and a chrome & ribbed rubber foot pedal that looked like it may have interchanged with Harleys of the era😅...it was a uniquely designed beast. "They don't build 'em like they used to", came to mind.

Additionally, this unicorn was complete with metal piped, 3-actuator hydraulics, controlled by !!8!! solenoids---with all except one appearing original!

Mind blown 😮😮🤯🤯

Anyway- I dove in, went exploring😅 (knew no factory support would be available), and had this 'ol girl back to normal life in a jiffy. No parts needed for this 'survivor'. She's all natural. Neat experience!

(Pic of similar chair for reference)

10/18/2022

This. This stuff right here 🎯

One of our wonderful, new clients in Hanover, Pa called last week and stated that they had an x-ray that kept "blowing fuses and wouldn't turn on", but additonally wouldnt stop "drifting"... she stated that their prior repair company had looked at it and said to her 'there was nothing they could do, they'd need to replace it'.. apparently this other company had tried to fix it several times only to have it work for a few exposures before again losing power...Besides this- the "drift" was never corrected and had became so severe that the scissor arm would basically try to uppercut the user😂

This is the type of scenario foreshadowing (fore-play? to me😅) that spikes my passion. Give me the scenario where my competitor or someone of relative authority or high-opinion has said "no", or "it can't be done". Ive personally gained both customers, and nice equipment that techs for the industry giants have falsely condemned or misdiagnosed...

Within 10 minutes of testing, I found such obvious damage to the wiring harness, in the most predictable spots- I was amazed. A few seconds later, I confirmed that suspension arm was in fact adjustable- and right where I expected it to be. I rejoiced.

Penetrating this new geographic market, as a new company with no close-geographic industry connections has been overwhelmingly stressful and slow going-- but if my competitors genuinely put full effort into the diagnostic and repair attempts of this unit, I confidently know now that they are "out-skilled".

If they went in with the mindset of selling a new machine to replace this 5 yr old machine, then I confidently know now, that they are ethically "out-classed"...

Long story short- this seemingly long-time "problem unit" had been twisted so many times in full circles, that the fixed position wire terminals had cinched the wire harness so tight that the insulation/casings had split, exposing energized wire to contact the bare metal, interior surface of the scissor-arm casting, causing an intermittent short-to-ground, hence tripping the breaker controlling this device. Knowing what I know, and seeing the design of the tube assembly however; something didn't add up. This wire should have never been mechanically "allowed" to twist and bind so badly. That's when I found a vacant hole where a small dowel pin or screw should have been placed by the installer- and wasn't...

10/02/2022

⚠️Friendly Reminder--Keep your sterilizer healthy, just like your patients⚠️

🤔🤔 Did you know that by proactively performing maintenance on your sterilizer, that you can dramatically reduce the likelihood of failed cycles, spore tests, error codes, anger & stress at NON-Routine times?😅

Now, thru Oct 31, get a maintenance for:

-Tuttnauer 2540, 2340, 1730- install new door gasket, air jet, door bellows kit installed for $249 - picked up and returned to your location.

-Tuttnauer EZ9, EZ10- install new door gasket, calibration, water pump & air filter for $399- picked up and returned to your location. (Add solenoids for $299)

-Midmark (2nd gen+ M9 & M11)- install new full gasket kit, new water solenoids and solenoid block for $699- picked up and returned to your location. (Add an OEM door motor and door springs for $349)

-Midmark (2nd gen+ M9 & M11)- install new full gasket kit, cruddy lower chamber cleaned, new heating element (w/seals), thermostats, all solenoids, solenoid block, pressure relief valve and OEM door motor assembly for $1850- picked up and returned to your location.

-Statim 2000, 5000 and G4- install new cassette gasket, replace bio & compressor filters, waterpump strainer cleaned, and new solenoid for $649- picked up and returned to office.

*new customer promo coupon or other discounts prohibited*

08/05/2022

Mason-Dixon Dental Repair is proud to announce that we're now an authorized Tuttnauer Service & Repair Partner!

We're here for repairs, parts & maintenance items. And should the rarity occur; we're also here to handle issues with your unit if still covered under warranty.

We're grateful to be with the team who has been producing some of the most effective, user-friendly, reliable and best engineered sterilizers on the market. Cost of ownership is minimal compared to other brands, and their standard warranty is the best on the market, hands-down!

https://tuttnauerusa.com/

Tuttnauer autoclaves and infection control products are trusted in clinics, laboratories, hospitals across the globe. With over 90 years experience, Tuttnauer is renowned for robust products, and professional service and maintenance programs.