When putting together your dental office, there are several rooms you will design. Most dentists will go into great lengths designing the perfect reception and treatment areas and forget one place that is essential to their practice: the laboratory. They assume that this room would not take too much of their design budget since it is primarily functional and out of the clients’ view.
You should nevertheless remember that the design of the lab will significantly affect the output of your technicians. It should form part of your contract with a company that specializes in medical interior design in Sydney. The company will handle all elements of the lab design right from the floor layout to the equipment and fittings that determine its functionality.
Here are the design options for modern dental laboratories:
Generic Designs
Labs are described as generic when they follow the layout of a specific group of labs. They will feature the same sizes, engineering services, and storage options. Generic laboratory designs are generally used for research organizations, as they are built to fulfill specific objectives. A generic design for a research lab also makes sense from an administrative point of view since it can be easily managed. Some generic labs, however, allow some flexibility in terms of the location or equipment to suit your team.
Flexible Designs
This allows you to adapt your laboratory space to suit your dental practice’s team. You can reconfigure the lab from time to time to meet your practice’s needs at low costs and minimal disruption. A flexible lab design will feature mobile storage solutions, workbenches, and modular systems. It is also an open plan layout that allows you to have considerable floor space for maximum space utilization.
Sustainable Designs
Sustainability is currently a buzzword worldwide. Lab designers have also been searching for methods of maximizing workers’ efficiency with minimal impact on the environment. That said, a sustainable lab design will feature maximum natural lighting and heating to reduce the exhaust from your fume hoods. This is not just eco-friendly but will also boost your employees’ health and reduce your operation costs.
Collaborative Designs
Modern science is quite a collaborative activity, and modern lab designs are meant to facilitate cooperation. Collaborative laboratories feature meeting spaces, write-up sections, and offices where employees can exchange ideas and discuss research findings. These designs also incorporate break rooms and relaxing areas that will allow different teams in your lab to mix up and collaborate.
Wet and Dry Designs
Wet labs generally comprise chemical-resistant surfaces, sinks, and fume hoods while dry ones tend to be computer intensive and feature lots of electronics and wires. With the increased dental lab automation, wet and dry lab designs are becoming more popular. The space for wet labs is, however, decreasing, and most of your lab space will now be taken up by the dry lab.
The ideal design for your lab will depend on the primary function of your dental practice. If, for instance, you fabricate the dental appliances used in your practice, a collaborative design might be your best option. This way, different teams can consider your diagnoses and brainstorm to guarantee the best outcome for your patients.
