As a dentist, making patients feel comfortable and safe at your practice is crucial. While the furniture you select can reflect the vibe of a home, it should not be a residential grade dining room chair.
Commercial grade furniture provides durability and cleanability that is designed specifically for high-traffic locations.
Conversely, residential grade furniture found at retailer will not hold up under pressure. For instance:
- If laminate or wood, armrests or legs will start delaminating and may even break.
- If pleather, furniture may start to peel, and if fabric, will definitely show wear and tear.
A living or dining room chair is not meant to support 20 to 30 people on a daily basis, especially for time periods of up to eight to 10 hours. Commercial, health care grade furniture, though, is created specifically for that purpose.
Which furnishings should dental practices avoid?
- Residential grade furniture.
- Plush seating.
- Wooden chair legs and arms. Their porous material will not hold up to use.
But is commercial grade guaranteed to last?
Reputable manufacturers of commercial grade furniture for the health care environment provide substantial warranties. A warranty of high caliber should cover almost everything, except intentional damage. Look for specifics. For instance, Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty.
If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Commercial health grade is more expensive for good reason. In a health care setting, furniture must withstand frequent wiping and cleaning with EPA-approved disinfectants.
Also, there’s no guesswork about which products can be used to clean commercial health grade furniture. The manufacturer will provide a care guide with clear instructions that will also be available digitally.
Which dental furnishings are recommended?
- Commercial health-grade furniture.
- Vinyl. Very easy to clean, stain resistant and antimicrobial. Ideal for reception area. Available with texture, sheen.
Chairs like the Herman Miller Whisk, shown, generally include metal with polyurethane leg and arm caps that won’t scratch the floor. And thanks to sturdy metal construction, your chair should last beyond its 12-year warranty. In year 15, if boredom sets in, a new color is just one removable-and- changeable vinyl seat cover away.
- Silicone-based vinyl. Slightly more expensive than traditional vinyl, but provides a lush presentation.
Want to learn more about making your dental space COVID approved?
Visit the Benco Dental Learning Center for four insider tips on selecting reception area furniture, as well as helpful information in the form of checklists, white papers and informational articles that discuss the following topics, and many more.
- How to quickly and affordably rethink your practice’s look to put patients at ease.
- Are decentralized waiting areas the next big trend in dental office design?
- How to apply design standards from hospitals to dental practices for infection control.
Learn more at: https://www.benco.com/learning-center
