1. Staff and Square Footage
Who will be working alongside you in-office? This will help you plan your office to allow appropriate space for clinical staff in your design. Other things to consider are the waiting area, reception, restrooms, breakroom, and personal desk space.
Additional things to consider when planning your space are your equipment needs. X-ray areas, chairs, and cabinetry all take up square footage; it's critical to plan on what you need now and how you may expand in the future.
2. Planning
Once you know you have the available square footage, you can plan how many operators you may need. A typical rule of thumb is to plan on a 300-500 square fee per operatory. Depending on how spacious you want it.
That said, 1500-2500 sqft will result in 5-8 operatories. This is a great starting point when speaking with your team and equipment supplier. Remember that 300-500 sqft is a general number and includes general spaces like bathrooms, consultation rooms, a small lab, etc.
3. Location
Last on our list location. By location, we don't just mean the street you're on but the general size and demographic of the area you will be servicing. The general practice area and population size can help you better understand how many operations you need, the hygienists you may need to staff, and a reasonable expansion plan as you grow. Starting small with your project is a great way to manage your practice appropriately, and with the help of a good team, it can be planned in phases to grow with you.
4. Construction Team
What do we mean by a team? When building your dental office, it's crucial to work with construction professionals who understand the ins and outs of dental construction and who have a history of identifying and understanding the unique complications that come with equipment installation, functionality, and more.
There are two ways to approach your build-out.
All-in-one solutions. Working with a professional dental construction team like Cobb Hill, you'll have an all-in-house design, planning, and construction team. That means you work with one key contact from start to finish, all handled by the Cobb Hill team.
Pick your team. You may have an architect or interior designer with whom you'd love to work. Bring your team members with you, and we'll work together to manage the construction project. The downside, you typically have more points of contact and, at times, may need to manage them independently.
No matter how you build your project, we suggest you start by identifying the equipment provider you'll use. Henry Schein and Patterson Dental are examples. If you need additional help, we partner with most equipment providers to offer critical benefits and help you understand which is right for you.
If you're looking for a dental construction solution, don't hesitate to ask how we can help get your dream off the ground. With over 35 years of experience, we're here to provide the resources and answers you need.