Dental Offices
Creating Relaxing Environments
Interior design for dental offices is important in order to create a relaxing, safe, and comfortable environment for patients. The waiting room should be welcoming and have comfortable seating. The treatment rooms should be designed to maximize efficiency and minimize stress for both patients and staff. Colors, lighting, and materials should all be carefully considered in order to create a calm atmosphere. But there’s more to it than that. If you’re looking to maximize the potential of your practice, it only makes sense to seek out a professional interior designer that specializes in dental and medical offices.
Heidi Core, RID, IIDA has over 25 years of interior design experience designing for the healthcare industry. She creates foundations for functional efficiency while creating stylish and calming environments. And, she will work with you to create a custom design that reflects your unique dental practice, meets the needs of your staff, and delights your patient base. So contact us today to get the project started! You can reach our Birmingham, AL, offices by calling (205) 259-8780 or sending a message via our inquiry form.
Our Unique Approach to Interior Design
Functionality and stress reduction are top priorities when designing dental offices. The interior of a dental office must reflect the brand of the practice and meet the needs of both patients and staff. We take a holistic approach to design, considering colors, lighting, and materials, as well as the overall layout so that the space is put to its best use. Whether you’re looking for a total redesign or just an aesthetic overhaul, working with a professional interior designer ensures that your investment garners meaningful returns.
Because Heidi Core has spent the majority of her career working on healthcare interior design, she understands that patients’ and professionals’ interaction with a space impacts their well-being.
Interior Design Focusing on Hygiene
Healthcare settings require the highest level of cleanliness, and dental offices are no exception. We take care to use materials that can be easily cleaned and disinfected, and pay attention to ventilation, sanitation requirements, and the flow of traffic in the space. Hand-washing sinks and disinfecting stations are placed in strategic locations throughout the office so that the necessary standard of cleanliness can be maintained organically.
Dental Interior Design for Stress Reduction
Interior design for dental offices must take into account safety, comfort, and accessibility for both patients and staff. We carefully consider the layout of the space to ensure that everyone can move around safely and that there are no areas where patients could feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable. The interior design of a dental office can have a big impact on the comfort and stress levels of both patients and staff. Layouts must be carefully planned so that noise and visibility are managed. In dental settings, where tools can create anxiety-inducing noise, this is especially important. Interior design takes all of the senses into consideration in order to create an environment that achieves the desired effect.
Dental offices that provide a pleasant overall experience encourage regular visits and patient recommendations, which are essential for the financial success of the practice. However, as we all know, dental practices have a particularly arduous challenge to overcome – one that has been studied so extensively that researchers use an acronym in discussions: dental fear and anxiety (DFA). Research suggests that up to 30% of adults experience this. (1) Studies have shown that healthcare settings that incorporate restorative elements can improve stress reduction, and pain relief, and even improve how the brain processes signals. [2] We take these findings into account when designing dental offices, and can recommend materials and furnishings to create a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and calming.
Interior Design For Productivity & Workflow
Dental offices pose specific spacial requirements because of the specialized equipment used. Heidi Core works with dental clients to make sure that the space accommodates the technology, and is scalable to accommodate future upgrades or additions. The interior design of a dental office can impact the productivity of both patients and staff. We work closely with our clients to understand their workflow and procedures in order to design a space that maximizes efficiency. We also consider the ergonomics of the space to ensure that staff members can work comfortably and safely.
Incorporating Branding & Aesthetics
The interior design of a dental office should reflect the personality of the practice. We work with our clients to choose colors, materials, and furnishings that reflect their style and convey the message they want to send to their patients.
Interior Design Integrating Technology
The use of technology is becoming increasingly important in the dental industry. We work with each of our clients to integrate technology into their space in a way that is both functional and does not detract from the overall design.
Dental Office Interior Design Consultation
Our process begins with a consultation in Birmingham, AL to discuss your specific needs and goals with evidence-based healthcare design at the forefront of our design process. From there, we will do deep research so we can develop a custom design plan that addresses your priorities and the functional requirements of your space.
During your consultation, we will get to know you on a multi-point level so that we can understand your organization’s culture, values, and goals; this will help us create a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing and functional but also reflective of your brand.
We want to learn about your patients and what their experience in your office is like from the moment they walk in the door. We also want to know what your staff needs to provide the best possible care for your patients.
From there, we will begin to develop a custom design plan that takes all of your specific needs into account. We will consider the layout of your space, the services you offer, and the equipment used. We will also consider the age of your patients since a design meant to ease the mind of children is very different from one that would be calming for adults or seniors.
Interior Design Space Planning
No two dental practices are the same, so Heidi Core works closely with her clients to create a custom design that meets their specific needs. We take into account the size of the space, the number of staff members, and the type and frequency of procedures performed when planning the layout.
Once we have a plan in place, we will work with you to select the right furniture, colors, and materials that will bring your vision to life. We will also take into account the acoustics of your space and create a layout that optimizes traffic flow and minimizes noise.
Our goal is to make patients look forward to visiting your office, or at least provide them with a pleasant environment they do. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Furniture Selection
After your design is finalized, we will work with you to select the furniture that will be used in your office. We will take into account the style of your office, the type of patients you see, and the services you offer. We will also make sure that the furniture is comfortable and stylish so that your patients will be able to relax while they are in your office. Your waiting room is the first thing patients are met with; what does yours say? Does it say you are reliable and competent, or something else? No matter how good your services are, the environment that greets your patients can negate everything in an instant. [3]
Functionality is also important, so we will make sure that the furniture is sized correctly and placed in a way that optimizes traffic flow.
Lighting
The lighting in your office plays a big role in the overall atmosphere of your space. We will work with you to select the right type of lighting for your office so that it is both functional for the staff, but also creates an environment that is pleasing and inviting for the patient. In fact, light in the dentist office is so important that it can affect the outcome of intraoral scans. [4]
Project Management
Once the design is finalized and the furniture has been selected, we will work with you to manage the construction process. Heidi Core will be there to answer any questions you have and to make sure that the construction is proceeding as planned. We will also coordinate with the contractors to make sure that the work is done in a timely and efficient manner.
Core will manage the project by communicating with everyone involved, making sure that every task is completed correctly and to code, and maintaining a high level of quality. By taking these precautions, you can be sure that the project will stay on schedule and budget while also resulting in a beautiful final result. Additionally, this will enable you to return to your normal work life as soon as possible so that you can continue caring for patients.
What is the Cost of Dental Interior Design in Birmingham, Alabama?
We understand that you have a budget to consider and we will work with you to find the best possible solutions that fit your needs and your budget. We want you and your dental patients to love your new offices. Start by calling (205) 259-8780 or fill out our form and we will call you shortly.
References
- Stein Duker LI, Grager M, Giffin W, Hikita N, Polido JC. The Relationship between Dental Fear and Anxiety, General Anxiety/Fear, Sensory Over-Responsivity, and Oral Health Behaviors and Outcomes: A Conceptual Model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(4):2380. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042380
- Watts G, Khan A, Pheasant R. Influence of soundscape and interior design on anxiety and perceived tranquillity of patients in a healthcare setting. Applied Acoustics. 2016;104:135-141. doi:10.1016/j.apacoust.2015.11.007
- Ketcham H. Appearance of the dental office-an asset or a handicap. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 1963;67(2):312-315. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.1963.0275
- Jivanescu A, Faur AB, Rotar RN. Can Dental Office Lighting Intensity Conditions Influence the Accuracy of Intraoral Scanning? Jiang HB, ed. Scanning. 2021;2021:1-10. doi:10.1155/2021/9980590