CHC Planning Guide - 2019 - 26

Fundamentals
How the operatory is designed, equipped, and located is one of the most significant decisions you will make.
This is because of how it impacts workflow, the employees' and patients' experience, as well as their well-being.
Locate the sterilization area as centrally to the operatories as possible. If your clinic has windows, a design that
incorporates them into the operatories improves the experience for the patient and provides natural light for the
dentist. Natural light aids the accurate choice of composite and tooth shades.

EXPERT
ADVICE

Standardize operatories to one style and layout for all. In fact if you have multiple
office sites, it is optimum that all the offices have the same operatory layout, and as far
as possible, the same workflow. During times of new staff acclamation or staff shortages,
standardization allows team members to work anywhere with ease and without impediment
to efficiency. The only exception should be if you choose to add closing doors to an
operatory for the purpose of special treatment requirements. Doors on standard
operatories are not necessary, and add to construction costs. Poorly placed, they can
impede operatory access by staff. An operatory with a door should therefore be larger.

We recommend one of the following operatory layouts depending on your needs and budget:
* A simple and less costly operatory design uses a 'T' wall with a 4'-5' opening in the center of the operatory
wall that has the hall access. A pass-thru cabinet in a shared operatory wall houses the X-ray machine for
use between adjoining operatories. Swing delivery off the dental chair is the recommended delivery unit
choice
* An ergonomically sound and efficient recommendation is an operatory with access from the hallway on
either side of a 12:00 o'clock cabinet. This type of design allows the dentist and support staff to readily
enter and leave the space without interfering with activity. The 12:00 o'clock cabinet is ideally positioned to
accommodate operatory equipment and the dental delivery system. From an ergonomic standpoint, with an
assistant trained in four-handed dental technique, this position is superior
* Adjoining operatories can share center island cabinetry; the cabinetry comes in many designs and provides
storage, writing spaces, handwashing stations, and X-ray machine housing

Sterilization Bay
The sterilization bay is perhaps the most critical support area in a dental
facility. To comply with standards established by the CDC, and to promote
efficiency, the sterilization area design should flow from the intake of
contaminated instruments and trays to their storage upon completion of
sterilization. The key sterilization areas defined by the CDC are RECEIVING
(intake); CLEANING AND DECONTAMINATION; PREPARATION AND
PACKAGING; STERILIZATION; STORAGE OF STERILE ITEMS.
First, the intake area needs a surface for unloading trays, disposal of
non-reusable sharps in sharps containers (however, we do recommend
that disposable sharps be placed in a sharps container in the operatory directly after use), and used cotton rolls
and gauze in a biohazard container. The containers can be placed under the counter accessed by a hole for
disposal through the counter or a foot tap to open trash storage below the counter.

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CHC Planning Guide - 2019

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