From Plastic to Profit: How Much Your Practice Could Save with VisionButler (a worked example)

Disposable foam retractors only seem inexpensive. The worked example below is based on illustrative assumptions – plug in your own numbers. If your two-chair practice uses 20 daily, the annual cost of these disposables climbs into the thousands of euros – plus dozens of kilograms of plastic waste. The solution is VisionButler: a reusable silicone retractor for €120 that replaces a large number of disposable pieces. Let's do the math.

1 Daily and annual disposable consumption

20 retractors × €1.8 = €36 / day

€36 × 250 working days = €9,000 / year

2 How much does VisionButler cost and save?

Purchase price: €120 / piece

Illustrative lifespan assumption: roughly 1,000 uses

Amortization per use: €120 ÷ 1,000 ≈ €0.12

Daily operation (20 uses): 20 × €0.12 = €2.4

Annual operation (250 days): €2.4 × 250 = €600

Additionally, every 1,000 uses requires 1 new VisionButler:

5,000 uses = 5 new VBs → 5 × €120 = €600 annually.

3 Financial balance incl. reinvestment

Disposable retractors: €9,000
VisionButler (operation + reinvestment): €600 + €600 = €1,200
Modelled annual saving: €7,800

4 How quickly does the investment pay off?

Initial investment for 5 VBs: 5 × €120 = €600

Daily savings: €36 − €2.4 = €33.6

Days to ROI = €600 ÷ €33.6 ≈ 18 working days

In this worked example, the initial investment is paid off in less than three weeks – and then you're saving €33.6 every day after that.

5 Notable benefits

Minimal logistics: a handful of retractors instead of thousands of boxes of plastic.

Infectious waste: a substantial reduction in waste weight.

Staff & time: no unwrapping or disposal – autoclave runs normally.

Comfort & aesthetics: soft silicone, ability to partially close mouth, and black surface as photo contraster.

Green branding: "Eco-friendly practice" attracts patients and partners.

Conclusion

VisionButler isn't just an ecological attraction – it's an investment that, in this worked example, pays back very quickly. On the assumptions above you're in profit within a few weeks and save a significant amount annually. If you want to operate smartly, save time and money while protecting the planet, VisionButler is the clear choice.