What is the difference between the two and why is there a need for distinction?
The Dental Clinic
The dental clinic is a place where a dentist performs dental procedures and treatments on patients. Dental clinics can be found in hospitals, schools, government offices, and other health-related establishments. The clinic is usually a single room housing all dental equipment and tools. Often, though not always, low-cost or free treatments are performed.
The Dental Office
A dental office is a business establishment owned and/or run by a dental professional. It has several components and handles not only dental services and treatments, but also clerical and financial concerns. Dr. Gordon’s dental office is a perfect example of such an establishment, with multiple employees and different departments.
Components of a Dental Office
A dental office has the following components:
- Reception area. The reception area is like a lounge with couches and entertainment options to keep patients busy while waiting. The reception area may have a television and some magazine racks. Some dental offices also have coffee makers or vending machines to provide refreshments for patients.
- Computers and patient records. In the reception area, the desk staff waits for patients and accesses dental records. Records may be computerized or on paper, but most practitioners use computerized records now.
- Dental clinic. As stated earlier, the clinic is the small room where the dentist performs dental treatments on patients. It has several pieces of dental equipment such as the dental chair, lighting, handheld tools and devices, oral irrigators, suction machines, and laser systems.
- Storage and other areas. Big dental offices with multiple practitioners may have several employees who work on filing and storage. For some dental offices such a specific department or employee may handle insurance claims and payment systems.
