In the realm of dental practice management, it’s not just the dentist and staff who need attention. The equipment are responsible for facilitating procedures and even the interior design of the dental office should be taken into consideration. There wouldn’t be any patient who would love to come into a cluttered dental clinic, right? Dental office design is just as important as any other factor.
First and foremost, the chief factor that one should consider in dental office design is sanitation. Every room in the clinic should be exceedingly satisfactory in terms of hygiene. Health is the primary point by which the dental office exists, so there should be no room for any unsightly and unsanitary element in the clinic.
But then again, no matter how clean the office is, if it doesn’t look appealing – admit it – you wouldn’t want to come back. Would you be enticed by black walls and purple ceilings with daunting images plastered all over? It’s supposed to be a dental clinic, not a witchcraft den.
It is for this reason why the physical aspect in dental office design is just as important as sanitation.
1. Forms and angles. Walls and ceilings should be designed to be risk free and less angled. Soft sided wall accents reduce the risks of injury or accidents in the presence of young patients.
2. Interior design color. Superficial as it may sound, color is very important. In dental office design speak, it is essential to paint an office with colors that are soothing and pleasing to the eyes. The sight sends powerful signals to the brain. And seeing dark shades in an operatory room that is just lit by the light coming from the dental chair might aggravate the anxiety of a dental phobic patient.
Do away with any loud shade. If only to suffice the element of design, one vibrant color may be incorporated to beat the monotony. But it should be limited to just one or two. One lively shade that can command positive attention from viewers. A palette of bright oranges, deep purples and neons are out of the question, let alone black.
3. Furniture. Choose furniture that complements the shades of the interiors. They should also be comfortable and child proof in consideration of pediatric patients that might come in. The reception area should be sizeable enough to accommodate patients scheduled for the day. A very small space is not advisable especially if there is a queue of patients waiting their turn.
4. Lighting. Lights are very essential in mapping out your dental office design. The entire office should be well lit to provide a relaxing ambiance to both patients currently having treatment as well as those in waiting. It would be best to use energy efficient lamps that are just of the right illuminating capacity; not too dim and not too bright. Just enough to calm an apprehensive patient that needs a root canal treatment.
5. Music. Just because it is a health facility doesn’t mean that the office should be monotonous and dreary. Calming music may be allowed to fill the centralized atmosphere of the dental office. Instrumental pieces that do not sound too sleepy may be part of the play list. If the patients enlisted for the day belong to the pop crowd, you may incorporate modern music that isn’t as loud; perhaps just enough to keep them from being bored or anxious.
6. Decorations. Flowers, magazines, running water, paintings – these are just as essential in any dental office design. Flowers add a country touch and elicit gentleness. Magazines will keep those in waiting busy, while the sound of running water mimics a spa ambiance. Paintings with comforting colors could just be the perfect wall accents.
Dental office design can even be a practitioner’s marketing tool. Patients would come into an office that has a very pleasing personality. It invites people in who could just become another set of patients in your roster.
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