Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. Chapter 32 The Dental Office Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved

Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Chapter 32The Dental Office

Chapter 32The 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


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


Temperature control Effective lighting Walls and floors Traffic control Sound control Privacy

Temperature control Effective lighting Walls and floors Traffic control Sound control Privacy

Environment of the Dental OfficeEnvironment 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.

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 OfficeAreas of the Dental Office


Administrative area: Hub for the management or the business side of the practice.

Items include:• Desk• Business equipment• Storage area for patient records

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’dAreas 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.

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.



Sterilization area: Sterilization and supply center where instruments are maintained, cleaned, sterilized, and stored in preparation for reuse.

Sterilization area: Sterilization and supply center where instruments are maintained, cleaned, sterilized, and stored in preparation for reuse.



Dental laboratory: An area with a workbench, wall‑mounted storage cabinets, and laboratory materials and supplies.

Dental laboratory: An area with a workbench, wall‑mounted storage cabinets, and laboratory materials and supplies.



Table 32-1: Equipment and SuppliesTable 32-1: Equipment and Supplies


Dentist’s private office: Office for the dentist’s personal use.

Consultation room: Area where proposed treatment plans are discussed with a patient.

Dentist’s private office: Office for the dentist’s personal use.

Consultation room: Area where proposed treatment plans are discussed with a patient.



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.

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 EquipmentClinical Equipment


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.

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’dClinical 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.

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.



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.

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.



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.

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.



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.

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.



Operating light is used to illuminate the oral cavity during a procedure.

Operating light is used to illuminate the oral cavity during a procedure.



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.

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.



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.

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.



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.

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.



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.

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 AreasCare of Clinical Areas


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.

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.

Care of Clinical Areas cont’dCare of Clinical Areas cont’d

Documents

Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. Chapter 32 The Dental Office Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved