CHC Planning Guide 2017 - 21

Fundamentals
* Unless your dental space is small, say six of fewer treatment rooms, avoid any temptation to run vacuum
lines through the ceiling. Even with a small office, try to find other alternatives to ceiling-run vacuum lines.
It is better to run lines from the foot of the treatment chair to a common base wall and along it to the
mechanical room.
* Plumbing and electrical lines may need to be completely upgraded in an older building. Water lines must
be reliable, clean, and free of debris.
* You may want to consider how design will take advantage of existing features such as plumbing, shared
wet walls, and window location.
* Electrical service is needed to support all of the clinic activities.
* Will you share the building? If so, other businesses, their type, and their parking requirements should be
compatible with your operation.
* How economically can the building be heated in winter and cooled in summer?
* Where is the sun located in the afternoon when compared to the treatment rooms?

Function
Let's think about the function of our clinic. By "function" we mean, "how easily we can get our jobs done." If an
operatory is too small, or if the supplies or equipment we need are in the wrong place, it can make it difficult to
complete our tasks. The outcome we're looking for could be compromised. What can we do to assure that our
workspace is just right for the job we need to do?

What spaces do we need in our dental office?
The first thing we need to know is what spaces we really need in our clinic. Some spaces are absolutely
necessary, while others may not be required. Whether you include them in your planning and design will
depend on your mission, budget, scope of practice, and organization. Let's look at some essential vs. nonessential spaces in the dental clinic.

Essential Spaces
Operatory
ADA
RESTROOM

STORAGE

CAD/CAM
MILL

ADA
RESTROOM

We recommend that each operatory be 10' wide by 11'
deep (some rear delivery systems will require greater
room depth), and no less than 9'8" wide if side cabinets
will be used. A simple operatory design can be 9' wide
by 10' deep if necessary. Please remember that to
comply with ADA wheelchair accessibility requirements,
treatment rooms must have a minimum 32" (36"
recommended) clear entrance to allow the patient to
transfer from the wheelchair to the treatment chair. If both right-and-left-handed (likely) dentists will use the
GENERAL
6180 SF chair.
operatory, then you must have the same amount of clearance on both sides of the dental
T.V.

T.V.

TRE.
ROOM 9

JAN.
CLOSET

DRINKING
FOUNTAIN

CONSULT.

TRE.
ROOM 13

CONSULT.

GLASS WALL

TRE.
ROOM 12

TRE.
ROOM 11

TRE.
ROOM 10

LAB

GLASS WALL

PRIVATE
OFFICE

LOGO WALL

TRE.
ROOM 14

CHECK-OUT

BUSINESS
OFFICE

TRE.
ROOM 15

TRE.
ROOM 8

IMAGING
ALCOVE

STORAGE

GLASS WALL

BUSINESS
MANAGER

GLASS WALL

CONFERENCE
ROOM

CHECK-OUT

STERILIZATION

T.V.

TRE.
ROOM 7

STORAGE

ADA
RESTROOM

RECEPTION

STORAGE

DISPLAY

T.V.

TRE.
ROOM 6

WAITING

TRE.
ROOM 1

REF.

DENTAL
MECHANICAL

LOCKERS

STAFF
LOUNGE

TRE.
ROOM 2

TRE.
ROOM 3

TRE.
ROOM 4

TRE.
ROOM 5

I.T. CLOSET &
STORAGE

T.V.

c 2017

by HENRY SCHEIN, INC.

henryscheinintegrateddesign.com

For more information, please call 1-800-851-0400

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CHC Planning Guide 2017