There are almost 186,000 dental offices in the country. If you want to be the go-to dentist in your area, you need to think about the design of your office.

You didn't go through a decade of dental school to learn the ins and outs of dental office design. That said, the design of your office can make a huge difference in your ability to attract patients.

In this post, we're going to tell you how to design a dental office by discussing the 5 elements of dental office design that we think are most important. There's nothing easy about designing a streamlined yet attractive dental practice, so keep reading and learn everything there is to know to make it happen.

1. Smart Floor Plan

When you think about your dental office's floor plan, the main thing you want is flow. Both your employees and patients need to be able to move freely around the practice, so while you don't want an empty office, it shouldn't be cluttered.

So, putting serious thought into your floor plan is crucial. Leave the floors empty in hallways and entrances. Just put essential dental items in the back of the practice, but leave plenty of room for chairs and a table in the waiting room.

2. Minimalism

Minimalism is among the biggest dental office design trends, but it's a major trend in most medical practices and corporate offices. Your dental office doesn't need to stimulate the senses. It should instill feelings of professionalism and calm in your patients.

Keep the wall colors neutral and the furniture plain, then focus on having clean lines throughout the office. Avoid overwhelming your walls with artwork and resist the temptation to place distracting dentist-themed objects around the waiting room.

3. Operatory - First Design

The most important part of any dental office is the operatory room(s). Design these rooms first, placing a focus on getting high-end equipment and creating a sense of calm for your patients. You can build out the rest of the office from there.

To create the perfect operatory room, try to think of it from your patients' perspectives as well as your own. It needs to be functional for you and your staff, but comfortable and non-intimidating for patients.

4. Balance

When it comes to dental office aesthetics, they should always take a backseat to balance and functionality. Everything should be easy for your staff to access and it should be organized in an efficient manner.

On the other hand, it needs to appeal to the patient as well. Consider their experience when making decisions about the lobby - the first thing they'll see when they walk in - as well as things like the distance from the door to the waiting room and the walk from the waiting room to the operatory.

5. Think of the Children

If children make up a significant number of your patients, they have to be accounted for in office design. Everything from your waiting room to the operatory will need to be welcoming to children as well as adults. 

Having toys in a waiting room or play area will be important for diffusing anxiety in children visiting the dentist. Consider putting a television in these rooms to keep them occupied as well.

Think About Dental Office Design Logically

When it comes to dental office design, you need to think about two things: your staff and your patients. If your staff can't function like they need to in your office, it's a huge issue. At the same time, if your patients find the office intimidating or drab, that's a major issue as well.

Striking the balance can be tricky, which is why it's best to hire an experienced dental office designer. Contact us at Arminco Inc. today and we'll help you design the perfect dental office that keeps all of these trends, and more, in mind.