Chris Richardson

Efforts to reorganize the waiting room can decrease the level of discomfort for your clients.

Why do some patients hate going to the dentist despite practitioners’ efforts to quell fears and minimize discomfort? According to one 

, expenses were a major factor in determining why people avoided a visit. But let’s get real: there are other reasons for avoiding dental treatment. It’s not the most pleasant experience since most patients expect some level of pain and discomfort to be involved. However, the environment is another factor worth considering to diminish patient anxiety.

While little can be done to relieve patients’ financial concerns, practitioners often do their best to minimize the physical discomforts their patients feel. The office environment, a factor often overlooked, is something that can be influenced. By making it more comfortable for the clients, the dentist can boost the effectiveness of their practice.

A nice office will attract more people. An effective marketing campaign on the company website, with the help of 

, may feature photos of the friendly space throughout the content. Before getting there, though, the offices needs redecorating.

As patients wait for their appointment, stress levels are on the rise. They can hear noises associated with dental treatment and anticipate what they are about to face. The process of waiting makes people more stressed yet little can be done about it. Efforts to reorganize the waiting room can decrease the level of discomfort for the clients:

		Update the furniture. Think about setting up at least two tiny coffee tables where people who come together can sit.

		Set up a coffee machine in the waiting room.

		Provide free WiFi so they can catch up on work or surf the internet.

		If the practice serves a large pediatric population, arrange a child-friendly corner. Throw in some dentistry-themed toys and books so the kids will calm down while learning something about their teeth.

		Replace the sterile feel of chairs in a row with modern, minimalist furniture. Go for clean lines, natural materials, and neutral colors. 

 that exposure to natural light improves work performance. When people work in offices with windows, they tend to be more efficient. Natural light will provide benefit to both the patients and staff.

It can also make your clients feel more comfortable. Instead of white, artificial lights, they will get the warm feeling that only natural sunshine can give.

Since it is impossible to work solely under natural lighting, make sure the artificial light you use mimics nature as much as possible. 

Do you know why people usually perceive dental offices as cold? Because they 

 cold. Floor heating is a great option for winter, since it doesn’t hit the client from a single side. The cooling system is also important, since it has to make the temperature comfortable without cooling down the room too much.

When thinking about the most comfortable temperature, think about the personal preferences of clients as though they were friends and family. Bring it up or down to a pleasant level.

	The biggest problem with many dental offices is a lack of personality. The sterile feeling commonly associated with the dental setting makes the client's experiences blend together. It is time to make a shift in the experience of the clients. When they come to the office, it is best if they are welcomed into a friendly environment.

Achieve that impression by displaying photos of the staff around the office. It will create a friendly atmosphere, since the clients won’t expect to be stressed by the smiling faces they see in the photos.

Decorate the waiting room and the office with something that conveys your personal vibe. If for example you love motorcycles, place a collectible motorcycle toy on your desk. Displaying personal interests throughout the space will show a charismatic side the clients are not used to seeing.  

Always striving to convince people that dentists are not scary might not be enough. Targeting the office environment may be the thing that takes the practice to the next level. Using these tips to redesign the office space can change the impression the practice makes on current and future patients.   

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Always striving to convince people that dentists are not scary might not be enough. Targeting the office environment may be the thing that takes the practice to the next level. Using these tips to redesign the office space can change the impression the practice makes on current and future patients. 