Dental procedures and practices continue to expand as technological advancement creates patient outcomes beyond expectations. Advances in the dental office and operating room environment have also been keeping pace, providing showy, yet clean and sterile environments. Aspects that are literally beginning to shine are the lighting and flooring, both meeting performance standards and aesthetic guidelines.
HDP porcelain flooring
This advancement in dental and surgical flooring systems utilises an advanced type of glazing formed by digital printing. In a manufacturing process that bears similarities to television, the pattern graphics revealed on HDP porcelain are comprised of tiny dots of colour which result in tile patterns of high definition. This improvement is a quantum step up from previous screen printing and glazing porcelain techniques that were quite unsuitable. In fact, the laser printed wood or stone look has quickly become the preferred choice of flooring in many dental offices.
Luxurious vinyl
Performance and aesthetics of modern vinyl also meets the stringent aesthetic and performance guidelines for dental offices. The ‘luxury’ vinyl comes in a stone or wood grain finish in either plank or tile form. When this product is finished with an antimicrobial coating or ceramic bead finish it is more than suitable, and has garnered a lot of support from the dental industry.
Modular carpets
This is a product that has often been avoided in the past, but one that is very versatile in the reception or waiting room areas. Modular carpet tiles are exchangeable, with the option to replace a stained or worn tile with a new one. Some practices consider it an unsuitable look reminiscent of an office or institution, although practicality certainly has its place. The market continues to expand, offering a huge array of carpet tiles, with choices in pattern, size, and a much improved yarn appearance. These traits and improvements have clinicians again looking at carpet tiles as an aesthetic and functional office solution.
Lighting
With affordability an issue in any business, the application of LED lighting was held back from most dental clinics. Regardless of the benefits, there were very few clinicians who were willing to pay for lighting that was two or three times more expensive than fluorescent lighting. Recent advances have seen a change in this dynamic. Many regions have adopted restricted energy codes on lighting, while technological improvements in the LED product continue to make headway. LED options for down lighting and uplighting are starting to compare favourably with their fluorescent competition. It’s expected that 2 x 4 fixtures suitable for dental operations will be the next phase of LED expansion.
When remodelling, refurbishing, or just starting out, it is advisable to study trends in the marketplace. Don’t presume that products capable of high performance are always going to be too expensive, or subject to low aesthetic appeal. Recent advancements are resulting in attractive, easy-maintenance, and optimum performance ideally suited to the dental or surgical office environment. The benefits for patients and doctors alike are there to see in their smile.