Unit 2: Facilities and Staffing

Introduction

Unit 1 provided information on developing community support for a dental clinic and planning for a dental program. Unit 2 provides vital information for organizations that have determined that they need a fixed dental clinic facility to best serve their target population. Note: This information is intended as a guide and is not meant to cover all possible scenarios.

Information is provided on topics such as:

• Estimates of construction, remodeling, supply, instrument, and equipment costs
• Size of facility needed to optimally serve different population sizes
• Dental clinic layouts
• Construction specifications for a dental facility
• How to select dental equipment, instruments, and supplies
• Staff configurations for different clinic sizes

Once you determine facility size, read this unit from beginning to end. It contains many details that need to be considered before beginning clinic construction and seeking funding for a dental program. Cost information provided in this unit will be useful when considering funding and budget issues discussed in Unit 3.