Building your new dental practice is something that you should quite rightly be excited by, but before you know it, you find yourself lost in the details. Choosing the name, picking out the decor, and hiring the team are some of the highlights, but it’s getting the basics right that really makes the difference. To ensure you don’t overlook anything and feel fully prepared, we will guide you through the practical details.
Equipment every practice has to have
Making sure that the treatment room is stocked with everything you need is key because it is the only way to ensure that the dental care team has everything they need. By sourcing all of the following from an established national supplier with a proven track record, you can make things so much easier for yourself:
Bullet Points:
- Ergonomic and fully adjustable dental chairs for each treatment room should be the first purchase you make, so that you can fit everything else around them
- Adjustable lighting needs to be bright enough and precise enough to allow the dental care team to focus on the task at hand and work their magic
- Using precision handpieces with a variety of attachments ensures that you can always perform precise restorative work without delay.
- An effective suction system will keep the working area dry and ensure that the dentist can always get a clear view of what they are working on
- A sterilising station comprising an autoclave, ultrasonic cleaner, and a washer-disinfector unit has to be in place before you can legally open and operate
- Senior dentists should always have plenty of instruments and suitable storage available so they never have to compromise during an appointment. These include picks and mirrors to ensure nothing is missed.
- Dentists need imaging systems like X-ray machines and intraoral cameras to treat more complex cases, such as complicated root structures or broken teeth.
New practice managers may think that they have to source a dedicated supplier for each item above by going directly to the manufacturer in each case. The problem with this approach is that it is simply not practical due to the time it would take, the costs involved, and the variation in terms of shipping and delivery times. Connecting with a team like Kent Express is the smart way to get everything from a simple surgical scalpel to the specialist consumables for the latest treatments.
Ways to make your patients more comfortable
A warm smile from the reception team is the first touchpoint when a patient comes for an appointment, and the second will be the chair they sit in while in the waiting room. Making sure to offer comfortable seating, a TV with the volume down low and subtitles, and a selection of magazines is a great way to cater to the needs of all of your patients. It’s about giving them options and showing them that they are somewhere they can relax and take their time. The less clinical and the more cosy the waiting room feels, the better. Soft colours and neutral tones on the walls will also help, as will offering patients the option of noise-cancelling headphones should they wish to block out ambient noise.
Practice managers who invest in signage and informative displays to showcase dentist-recommended brushes and other consumables can also make a difference. When patients know that they can get exactly what their dentist told them about in their appointment on their way out, they will leave in a positive frame of mind and ready to put their new habits into practice.
The importance of staff comfort
Ergonomic workspaces are essential if you want to get the most out of every member of the team. For those in the treatment room, this means adjustable stools and plenty of room to work, and for those in reception, it means comfortable seating and desks set to the right height. If in doubt, ask. Practice managers who are proactive are the ones who will find the best solutions because they will be getting feedback from the people using the furniture and systems they are adding to the practice.
Taking an active role in every aspect of setting up and running the practice is always the best approach. It improves your knowledge, helps you identify issues quickly, and ensures that patients and dental care professionals stay happy. Ideal when you want to run a practice that makes a real difference.
