ch. 32 - the dental office

The DentalThe DentalOfficeOffice

Chapter 32Chapter 32

Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Lesson 32.1Lesson 32.1


Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Pronounce, define, and spell the Key Terms.Pronounce, define, and spell the Key Terms. Describe the six areas of the dental Describe the six areas of the dental

environment in a professional office.environment in a professional office. Discuss the important qualities of the Discuss the important qualities of the

reception area.reception area. Describe the goals in designing the dental Describe the goals in designing the dental

treatment area.treatment area.


IntroductionIntroduction

Patients often judge the quality of care by Patients often judge the quality of care by the appearance of the dental office!the appearance of the dental office!


Office EnvironmentOffice Environment

TemperatureTemperature Reception area 72° FReception area 72° F Clinical area 68° to 70° FClinical area 68° to 70° F Constant air exchangeConstant air exchange

LightingLighting Reception area: table and floor lampsReception area: table and floor lamps Business area: fluorescent lightingBusiness area: fluorescent lighting Clinical area: fluorescent and clinical lightingClinical area: fluorescent and clinical lighting

(Cont’d)(Cont’d)




Wall and floor coveringsWall and floor coverings Calming colorsCalming colors Floor covering Floor covering

• Durable carpet in reception, business, and Durable carpet in reception, business, and private office areasprivate office areas

• Vinyl in clinical and laboratory areasVinyl in clinical and laboratory areas

Traffic controlTraffic control Smooth transition to all areas of the officeSmooth transition to all areas of the office Separate areas for business, clinical, and private Separate areas for business, clinical, and private

functions.functions.(Cont’d)(Cont’d)




Sound controlSound control Minimizing the sound of the dental equipmentMinimizing the sound of the dental equipment Provide distraction from dental sounds with the Provide distraction from dental sounds with the

use of musicuse of music PrivacyPrivacy

Administrative area Administrative area Dentist’s officeDentist’s office Staff loungeStaff lounge


Specific Areas of the Dental OfficeSpecific Areas of the Dental Office

Reception areaReception area Administrative/business officeAdministrative/business office Clinical-treatment areaClinical-treatment area Sterilization centerSterilization center Dental laboratoryDental laboratory Dentist’s private officeDentist’s private office Dental staff lounge Dental staff lounge


Reception AreaReception Area

Patients are received, greeted pleasantly, Patients are received, greeted pleasantly, and made to feel welcome. The reception and made to feel welcome. The reception area is not a waiting room!area is not a waiting room!

Things to remember:Things to remember: Keep the area clean.Keep the area clean. Ensure adequate seating.Ensure adequate seating. Maintain up-to-date reading material.Maintain up-to-date reading material. Provide place for coats and umbrellas.Provide place for coats and umbrellas. Offer a children's corner.Offer a children's corner.


Fig. 32-1 Design of the dental office, incorporating Fig. 32-1 Design of the dental office, incorporating calming colors.calming colors.


Administrative Area Administrative Area

Hub for the management or the business side Hub for the management or the business side of the practice.of the practice.

EquipmentEquipment DeskDesk Telephone systemTelephone system ComputersComputers PhotocopierPhotocopier Fax machineFax machine Storage area for patient records Storage area for patient records


Fig. 32-4 Organization and design of the business area.Fig. 32-4 Organization and design of the business area.


Treatment AreaTreatment Area

Also referred to as the dental operatory; all Also referred to as the dental operatory; all clinical treatment is provided here.clinical treatment is provided here.

Design goals Design goals Providing comfort and mobility for the dental team Providing comfort and mobility for the dental team Providing privacy and comfort for the dental Providing privacy and comfort for the dental

patient patient Enhancement in the use of dental equipment Enhancement in the use of dental equipment

through good time management and efficient through good time management and efficient techniques techniques


Fig. 32-5 Dental treatment area. Fig. 32-5 Dental treatment area. (Courtesy of A-dec.)(Courtesy of A-dec.)


Patient Dental ChairPatient Dental Chair

Specific featuresSpecific features Full support to knees, bottom, back Full support to knees, bottom, back

and headand head Comfortable, movable arms Comfortable, movable arms Easy to maintain and cleanEasy to maintain and clean Controls for adjusting the patientControls for adjusting the patient

• Upright position: The back of the chair is upright at Upright position: The back of the chair is upright at a 90-degree angle.a 90-degree angle.

• Supine position: The patient is lying down and his or her Supine position: The patient is lying down and his or her head and knees are at approximately the same level.head and knees are at approximately the same level.

• Subsupine position: The patient's head is lower than his or Subsupine position: The patient's head is lower than his or her feet. her feet.


Fig. 32-6 Patient dental chair.Fig. 32-6 Patient dental chair. (Courtesy of A-dec.)(Courtesy of A-dec.)


Operator’s StoolOperator’s Stool

Type of stool designed to support the body Type of stool designed to support the body for a prolonged period in a fixed muscular for a prolonged period in a fixed muscular activityactivity

Specific featuresSpecific features Large seat and backLarge seat and back Easy adjustment for back supportEasy adjustment for back support A seat that is easy to lower and raiseA seat that is easy to lower and raise Casters to make it easy to move around the Casters to make it easy to move around the

patient patient


Dental Assistant’s StoolDental Assistant’s Stool

Type of stool that must provide stability, Type of stool that must provide stability, mobility, and comfort, allowing a proper mobility, and comfort, allowing a proper fatigue-reducing posture fatigue-reducing posture

Specific featuresSpecific features Twists and turns to help the assistant reach Twists and turns to help the assistant reach

countertops and shelvescountertops and shelves Provides an adjustable foot platform or foot ringProvides an adjustable foot platform or foot ring Firm, secure cushioning in the seat Firm, secure cushioning in the seat Abdominal bar positioned for support Abdominal bar positioned for support Casters on which move the chair easilyCasters on which move the chair easily


Fig. 32-11 Left, dental assistants’ stool. Right, Fig. 32-11 Left, dental assistants’ stool. Right, operators’ stool. operators’ stool.

(Courtesy of A-dec.)(Courtesy of A-dec.)



Lesson 32.2Lesson 32.2


Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Prepare the dental treatment area for patient Prepare the dental treatment area for patient care in the morning before seeing patients.care in the morning before seeing patients.

Prepare the dental treatment area for patient Prepare the dental treatment area for patient care the next day.care the next day.

Discuss the basic functions of the dental unit.Discuss the basic functions of the dental unit. List the clinical equipment most commonly List the clinical equipment most commonly

found in dental treatment areas.found in dental treatment areas.


Dental UnitDental Unit

Provides the necessary electrical and air-Provides the necessary electrical and air-operated mechanics to the hoses, operated mechanics to the hoses, attachments, and working parts of the unit.attachments, and working parts of the unit.

Dental-unit delivery systemsDental-unit delivery systems Front delivery: positioned over the patient's lap Front delivery: positioned over the patient's lap Side delivery: positioned at either side of the Side delivery: positioned at either side of the

patient's chair patient's chair Rear delivery: positioned behind the dental chair Rear delivery: positioned behind the dental chair


Fig. 32-12 Dental unit. Fig. 32-12 Dental unit. (Courtesy of A-dec.)(Courtesy of A-dec.)


Additional Clinical Equipment Additional Clinical Equipment

RheostatRheostat A foot-controlled device placed on the floor near the operator to A foot-controlled device placed on the floor near the operator to

control the function of the dental handpiecescontrol the function of the dental handpieces

Dental unit waterlines Dental unit waterlines Supplies water through hoses or waterlines into the dental Supplies water through hoses or waterlines into the dental

handpieceshandpieces Air-water syringe Air-water syringe

Handheld instrument attached to the dental unitHandheld instrument attached to the dental unit FunctionsFunctions

• Delivers a stream of waterDelivers a stream of water

• Delivers a stream of airDelivers a stream of air

• Delivers a combined spray of air and waterDelivers a combined spray of air and water(Cont’d)(Cont’d)


Additional Clinical EquipmentAdditional Clinical Equipment


Operating light Operating light Used to illuminate the oral cavity during a dental Used to illuminate the oral cavity during a dental

procedureprocedure Oral evacuation system Oral evacuation system

A means of removing water, saliva, blood, and A means of removing water, saliva, blood, and other fragments during a dental procedureother fragments during a dental procedure

TypesTypes• Saliva ejectorSaliva ejector

• High-volume evacuator (HVE)High-volume evacuator (HVE)(Cont’d)(Cont’d)




Disposable trapsDisposable traps Filtering mechanisms for the saliva ejector and Filtering mechanisms for the saliva ejector and

HVE HVE Curing lightCuring light

Used to “harden” or light-cure dental materialsUsed to “harden” or light-cure dental materials AmalgamatorAmalgamator

Used to triturate dental materials by means of Used to triturate dental materials by means of vigorous shaking of the ingredients vigorous shaking of the ingredients





Central vacuum compressor Central vacuum compressor Provides the suction needed for the oral Provides the suction needed for the oral

evacuation systemsevacuation systems Central air compressorCentral air compressor

Provides compressed air for the air-water syringe Provides compressed air for the air-water syringe and air-driven handpieces and air-driven handpieces



Care of Clinical AreasCare of Clinical Areas

Morning routineMorning routine Arrive 30 minutes before the first scheduled Arrive 30 minutes before the first scheduled

patient of the day.patient of the day. Turn on the master switches for the central air Turn on the master switches for the central air

compressor and vacuum units. compressor and vacuum units. Ready the dental treatment rooms for patient care. Ready the dental treatment rooms for patient care. Recheck the appointment schedule. Recheck the appointment schedule. Set up the treatment room for the first patient.Set up the treatment room for the first patient.(Cont’d)(Cont’d)


Care of Clinical AreasCare of Clinical Areas


Evening routineEvening routine Complete the operatory exposure-control cleanup and Complete the operatory exposure-control cleanup and

preparation protocols. preparation protocols. Turn off all equipment. Turn off all equipment. Ensure that treatment rooms are adequately stocked for the Ensure that treatment rooms are adequately stocked for the

next day. next day. Post appointment schedules for the next workday.Post appointment schedules for the next workday. Ensure that instruments, patient records, and laboratory work Ensure that instruments, patient records, and laboratory work

are ready for the next day.are ready for the next day. Ensure that the sterilization center has been cleaned. Ensure that the sterilization center has been cleaned. Ensure that the treatment rooms are ready for use. Ensure that the treatment rooms are ready for use. Place any soiled protective clothing in the appropriate container. Place any soiled protective clothing in the appropriate container.


Central SterilizationCentral Sterilization

Specific area for:Specific area for: Cleaning, sterilizing, and storing instrumentsCleaning, sterilizing, and storing instruments Divided into a “contaminated area” and a “clean Divided into a “contaminated area” and a “clean

area”area” Provides extra storage for suppliesProvides extra storage for supplies Should be kept organized and clean at all timesShould be kept organized and clean at all times


Dental LaboratoryDental Laboratory

Organized area away from patient care where Organized area away from patient care where the dentist and dental assistant perform the dentist and dental assistant perform laboratory procedures.laboratory procedures.

Specific items foundSpecific items found WorkbenchesWorkbenches Storage cabinetsStorage cabinets Model trimmerModel trimmer Dental latheDental lathe Laboratory materials Laboratory materials


Dentist’s Private OfficeDentist’s Private Office

For use only by the dentist For use only by the dentist Can also be used as a consultation room with Can also be used as a consultation room with

patients patients Specific items foundSpecific items found

DeskDesk TelephoneTelephone ComputerComputer Extra chairs Extra chairs


Dental Staff LoungeDental Staff Lounge

Designated private area for clinical and Designated private area for clinical and business staffbusiness staff

Specific items found:Specific items found: Table and chairsTable and chairs Small refrigeratorSmall refrigerator MicrowaveMicrowave Locker or locked cabinet for personal belongingsLocker or locked cabinet for personal belongings Coffee or foodCoffee or food


ch. 32 - the dental office

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