The dental office

 The dental office

Introduction : 

A medical office is a place where a profession related to health care is practiced (general practitioner or specialist, general dentist or specialist). 

Its installation must be the culmination of deep reflection on all aspects of the medical profession.

Problematic

• Lack of understanding of the real missions of a medical practice firm
• Absence of a projection in time
• Cabinets deteriorate over time
• Absence of a scientifically oriented FMC. 

Objective :

• Provide the necessary information on setting up and managing a dental practice worthy of modern dentistry.

1. General design of the dental office: 

    The construction and interior design of the office must take into account scientific and administrative requirements and, above all, the well-being of patients.  

Any dental practice installation should include: 

• a reception room/secretariat for all information, appointments and all administrative procedures.
• a waiting room;
• an operating room (operator’s office), 
• a sterilization room,
• toilets and sometimes a handling laboratory, radio room

The layout and design of the premises must be designed to allow for ideal organization while respecting ergonomic rules and hygiene and asepsis conditions. 

It must have a pleasant light covering calling for softness with daylight and have the furniture necessary for the profession.

In the planning, it is necessary to have architectural technical conveniences to consider for water, electricity, suction, evacuation and ventilation pipes. 

The dental office

The reception area: the secretariat occupies the central part of the administrative and reception area. It is the real “control tower” of the administrative part. It must be the model of efficiency and functionality

The reception at the secretariat should not be neglected and the ideal would be to have:

• from a counter, 
• of a “pleasant and reassuring” decoration.

The reception area is the key point of the office because it makes the patient’s first impression and suggests the quality of your services and benefits. Avoid placing the reception area near the treatment area. The patient must then be welcomed in an office (not a corridor or a treatment chair).

The waiting room  : it must have specific rules of conviviality, modern decoration boards and have various magazines (women’s, men’s, sports, etc.)

The dental office

The operating room or treatment room  : it must be designed taking into account the specific needs related to the practice of dental surgery: 

• Have a practical work area for synergy between the practitioner and the assistant,
• easy patient access, 
• to have work plans, 
• quick access to the radio area. 

The dental office

The treatment room should be reserved exclusively for chairside work. It is therefore not recommended to install other workstations there, such as the practitioner’s desk. 

The technical work platform must respect the following principles:

• Mobility of furniture (if possible on casters).
• Sharp, unrounded corners on furniture should be avoided.
• Uniformity of material. 

There are two sinks, one for the doctor and one for the nurse. 

To comply with modern rules of asepsis and antisepsis, these must be equipped with a lever (operated with the elbow) or pedal to trigger the water and also an automatic system for liquid soap and waste port for paper towels.

They should be installed at a convenient height for the doctor and nurse and easy to clean. 

Radiology room : The evolution of digital technologies has made the treatments used in the dental office safer and simpler. Digital radiology techniques can now be implemented in the office. Using the same device, panoramic X-rays and CT scans can be obtained using the Cone Beam. 

Prosthetics laboratory: 

The dental office

2. Equipment and furniture: 

The dental chair: this is the center of the workstation, it must meet work safety standards, digital control and foot control for the practitioner must be provided for hygienic reasons as well as an anatomical shape. 

The dental office

In this chair, a general skeletal relaxation occurs. The upper area of ​​the back is concave to support the rib cage and to exert a small pressure at the level of the cerebral column. In the lumbar region the chair is a little convex, to support it. 

The dental chair can modify its backrest, headrest and height to achieve an ergonomic position for the patient.

The control must be done from both sides of the chair, accessible to the doctor and the nurse, and the buttons must not be prominent.

–    The operator’s seat  : The choice of seat is important, taking into account that the working position of the dentist encourages more vascular problems in the legs. 

The criteria for choosing a seat are:

• Adjustable backrest height, 
• Horizontally adjustable backrest position, 
• Seat stability (5 casters, 
• Both feet flat on the ground, 
• The seat should tilt backwards to support the lumbar region. 

Some seats increase the support surface of the buttocks while reinforcing the opening of the thigh-trunk angle, thus allowing greater comfort for the practitioner.

• The spittoon with glass: On the side wall we find the spittoon which drains the water used by the patient to wash the oral cavity.
• The tablet for the instrument tray: it finds its place on the patient’s chest or at his head.  
• Lighting (SCIALITICS)  : The lighting device is attached by a movable arm to the body of the device. In most cases, the lamp is attached to the dental chair, but it could also be separate. From an ergonomic point of view, the lamp must meet the following conditions:

• have an aesthetic shape and an attractive appearance
• be balanced
• present 3 axes of rotation to meet the 3 axes of rotation of the head 
• be easy to position
• the switch must be accessible
• Pre-prepared furniture and trays: 

Modern furniture adapts to hygiene requirements with smooth surfaces, rounded edges, airtight drawers, etc.

A special piece of furniture, designed for storing pre-prepared trays , makes the work easier.

3. Know how to manage and surround yourself with high-performing professionals:
   1. Know how to manage:

It is having or approaching the following qualities:

• Knowledge of current laws
• Professional skills.
•  Sense of organization.
• Communication skills with patients and partners;
• Ability to work in a team;
• Patience and listening skills;
• Flexibility and ability to make decisions and resolve different situations;
• Respect for ethics and professional conduct.

 Continuing medical education (CME) is recommended to stay current with the latest advances in dentistry and to improve practice skills and performance.

2.  Working with four hands  : The synergy between the dentist and the dental assistant is essential for the smooth running of the practice. The goal is to increase both the patient’s comfort and the quality of treatments, reducing not only the time in the chair but also the stress and fatigue caused by performing complicated dental procedures.
3. Chair Assistant Duties  : The assistant is responsible for efficiently performing the following tasks:

• Maintain a clear surgical field by retracting the lips, tongue, and cheeks, holding the mirror open to the operator, and using suction to remove saliva, blood, water, and debris from the patient’s mouth.
• Efficiently transfer instruments and materials according to the practitioner’s needs. Smooth and efficient transfer of instruments and materials reflects good communication between the dentist and dental assistant.
• The assistant must know the timeline of the operating sequence and anticipate when an instrument transfer will be required. 
• The transfer of instruments should be accomplished with a minimum of movements. 
• Instruments should be passed directly so that they are ready for use. 
• The transferred instrument should be placed so that the dentist can receive it without moving his eyes from the operating field. 
•  The assistant usually uses only the left hand to transfer instruments

Conclusion 

The greatest rigor in the design, construction and planning of a dental practice is therefore not a luxury: it is, quite simply, an essential step in the success of our mission of adequate patient care.
The sustainability, development and performance of a dental practice are closely linked to compliance with the rules of ergonomic science. 

Dental crowns are used to restore the shape and function of a damaged tooth.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can cause premature wear and often requires wearing a retainer at night.
Dental abscesses are painful infections that require prompt treatment to avoid complications. Gum grafting is a surgical procedure that can treat gum recession. Dentists use composite materials for fillings because they match the natural color of the teeth.
A diet high in sugar increases the risk of developing tooth decay.
Pediatric dental care is essential to establish good hygiene habits from an early age.
 

 The dental office