Chapter 32 The Dental Office Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. No part of this product may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including input into or storage in any information system, without permission in writing from the publisher. PowerPoint® presentation slides may be displayed and may be reproduced in print form for instructional purposes only, provided a proper copyright notice appears on the last page of each print-out. Produced in the United States of America ISBN 0-7216-9770-4

Introduction Patients often judge the quality of their care by the appearance of the dental office.

Environment of the Dental Office Temperature control Effective lighting Walls and floors Traffic control Sound control Privacy

Areas of the Dental Office Reception area: Patient’s are received, greeted pleasantly, and made to feel welcome. Things to remember: Keep area clean. Ensure adequate seating. Maintain up-to-date reading material. Provide place for coats and umbrellas. Offer a children's corner.

Areas of the Dental Office- cont’d Administrative area: Hub for the management or the business side of the practice. Items include: Desk Business equipment Storage area for patient records

Areas of the Dental Office- cont’d Treatment area: Dental operatory. Goals: Provide comfort and mobility for the dental team. Provide privacy and comfort for the dental patient. Enhance the design of the area for better use of time management and efficient techniques.                 

Areas of the Dental Office- cont’d Sterilization area: Sterilization and supply center where instruments are maintained, cleaned, sterilized, and stored in preparation for reuse.

Areas of the Dental Office- cont’d Dental laboratory: An area with a workbench, wall‑mounted storage cabinets, and laboratory materials and supplies.

Table 32-1: Equipment and Supplies

Areas of the Dental Office- cont’d Dentist’s private office: Office for the dentist’s personal use. Consultation room: Area where proposed treatment plans are discussed with a patient.

Clinical Equipment Patient dental chair: Designed to accommodate patient comfort. Positions of the dental chair: Upright: The back of the chair is upright at a 90‑degree angle. Supine: The patient is lying down so that the patient's head and knees will be at approximately the same level. Subsupine: The patient's head is lower than the feet.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Operators stool: Designed to support the body for a prolonged period of fixed muscular activity. Features Large seat and back. Adjustable lumbar support. Adjusts both higher and lower. Moves easily around the patient's chair without tilting.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Dental assistant’s stool must provide stability, mobility, and comfort, with proper, fatigue‑reducing posture. Features Twists and turns to reach countertops and shelves. Provides an adjustable foot platform or foot ring. Firm, secure cushioning in the seat and an abdominal support bar. Abdominal bar positioned for support.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Dental unit: Provides the necessary electrical and air‑operated mechanics to the hoses, attachments, and working parts of the unit. Dental unit delivery systems Front delivery: Positioned over the patient's lap. Side delivery: Positioned at either side of the patient's chair. Rear delivery: Positioned behind the dental chair.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Rheostat: A foot-controlled device placed on the floor near the operator to control the function of the dental handpieces. Dental unit waterlines supplies water through hoses or water lines into dental handpiece.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Air-water syringe is an instrument that is attached to the dental unit. Functions Deliver a stream of water. Deliver a stream of air. Deliver a combined spray of air and water.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Operating light is used to illuminate the oral cavity during a procedure.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Oral evacuation system is a means for removing water, saliva, blood, and other fragments during a dental procedure. Types: Saliva ejector High volume evacuator (HVE) Disposable traps: Filtering mechanisms for the saliva ejector and high volume evacuator.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d The curing light is used to “harden” or light-cure dental materials. An amalgamator is used to triturate dental materials by vigorously shaking the ingredients.

Clinical Equipment- cont’d Central vacuum compressor provides the suction needed for the oral evacuation systems. Central air compressor provides compressed air for the air‑water syringe and air‑driven handpieces.

Care of Clinical Areas Evening routine: Complete the operatory room exposure control clean-up and preparation protocols. Turn off all equipment. Ensure treatment rooms are adequately stocked for the next day. Post appointment schedules for the next workday. Ensure that instruments, patient records, and laboratory work are ready for the next day. Ensure that sterilization center has been cleaned. Ensure that treatment rooms are ready for use. Place any soiled protective clothing in the appropriate container.

Care of Clinical Areas- cont’d Morning Routine Arrive 30 minutes before the first scheduled patient of the day. Turn on the master switches for the central air compressor and vacuum units. Ready the dental treatment rooms for patient care. Recheck the appointment schedule. Set up the treatment room for the first patient.