Sound is one of the most overlooked aspects of the patient and dental team experience in any dental office. Did you consider this in your new office? I hope so because its hard to fix after the fact.
For years offices have been designed wide open where sound bounces around the entire "open bay" production area. Patients hear:
- suction
- drilling
- patients vomiting (yes I have heard this a few times)
- patents checking out discussing finances
- unhappy patients
- care calls
- patients being scheduled
- Dr's selling treatment to other patients
- children crying (and adults too)
Acoustic design and single entry design with doors can make a world of difference when it comes to patient experience.
Below is a recording from an actual dental office 3 operatories down from where the dentistry is happening. I was recording from inside an operatory with a door open. Then the door is closed at :20 and the stress goes down, music is actually audible instead of mixing in with the suction, drilling, chatting, etc....