Dental Office Soundproofing

The dentist’s office can be intimidating to say the least, especially for those with personal or secondary traumatic experiences from past visits. By soundproofing your office, you could help put patients at ease.

Learn more about why you should soundproof your dental office, common noise problems you might experience and ways to soundproof it to ensure overall satisfaction.

Reasons to Soundproof a Dental Office

Dentophobia is the fear of dentist visits in patients. Women reportedly suffer from this phobia more than men. Dental anxiety is not as severe and patients may eventually see the dentist despite experiencing high anxiety levels, although in extreme cases they may avoid it to the point that it becomes a phobia.

With excessive stress and anxiety associated with dentist visits, you may consider measures to help alleviate these issues. A few reasons to soundproof your dental office are detailed below.

Enhanced Patient Privacy, Comfort and Satisfaction

Patients value things like privacy and comfort, especially when they’re in an uncomfortable situation. They may have been forced to visit their dentist due to toothache or another issue. Sometimes, patients suffer from illnesses affecting their oral health, which may be embarrassing to discuss in the reception area or even in the treatment room. Patient confidentiality is one of the most important privileges and must be respected.

Dentist office soundproofing is one way of securing patient privacy and comfort. They will feel at ease knowing they can discuss private matters away from everyone. The resulting patient satisfaction will go a long way in ensuring their return.

Reduced Patient Stress and Fear

Soundproofing a dental office helps reduce patient stress and fear, especially for those in the waiting area. Dental equipment noise like the drill can trigger some, so hearing the sound may cause them to panic. Overhearing private conversations between a dentist and receptionist or another patient can also instill anxiety because of a lack of confidentiality. They may fear their own records being discussed for others to hear.

Putting the necessary measures in place to calm their nerves is important. You want to build trust and rapport with patients so they change their opinion about visiting your office in the future.

Common Dental Office Noises

Identifying the various noise sources can help determine which steps to take to create an acoustically secure space for your patients. Some common noises in dental offices include:

Dental Equipment

The instruments dentists use during their oral care routine may be standard and ordinary to most, but to others, they can trigger fear and anxiety. This may be because they had unsuccessful treatments in the past, were physically hurt or developed a fear of the loud noise.

Buzzing, scraping and grinding are common noises that come with dental tools. While you may have little control over dental equipment noise, you could minimize this for those outside the treatment room by soundproofing the room where you use them.

Conversations and Background Noise

Anxious patients may prefer peace and quiet while waiting for their turn to see the dentist. Those in the treatment room may also prefer silence as they receive care. Soundproofing a treatment room ensures conversations and background noise like televisions, printers and conversations between staff are muffled for patients in the room and those in the waiting area.

HVAC System Noise

The air conditioning system makes a humming sound that could be calming or distracting. Consider installing a model that operates quietly in an effort to maintain low noise levels. Inspect the ducts for rattles and vibrations and assess the necessity for mounts to help secure them. This may be an easier, cost-effective alternative to replacing the entire system.

Ways to Soundproof Your Dental Office

Soundproofing the treatment room is as beneficial as soundproofing the waiting and reception areas. They each promote varying sound levels and serve individual purposes. Learn more about ways to soundproof your dental office:

• Floors: The easiest way to soundproof your dental office is by adding materials that reduce or absorb sound. Starting with the flooring, install underlayments that reduce sound when you walk on it while providing insulation. They are easy to install and meets the necessary building code requirements.
• Ceilings and walls: Treatment rooms may benefit from soundproofing barriers due to their design. They offer exceptional dual sound absorbency and blocking functionality to prevent sound from entering and leaving the room. Install foam composites or mass loaded vinyl (MLV) barriers in the ceiling and walls for the best results.
• Doors: Sound travels underneath the door gaps. Sweeps and seals effectively combat this by closing the gap to block sound from passing through. Sealing gaps with green glue and other sound isolation systems is an efficient way to prevent sound leakage.

Combine Visual and Acoustic Elements

With all the foot traffic in a dental office, you want the space to be warm and welcoming for patients. One way to achieve this is by installing acoustic panels throughout the office. They are ideal in all spaces and provide visual appeal while absorbing sound.

Install Acoustic Panels

Acoustic panels are perfect for deadening and dampening sounds and are available in three variations. Each is suited for different requirements:

• Art acoustic panels: These panels offer a stylish, customized look while providing high-quality sound absorption. The individual panels are fade-resistant for up to 25 years so you don’t have to worry about longevity and durability. They will complement your waiting room’s interior design effortlessly and add aesthetic appeal to treatment rooms.
• Fabric-wrapped acoustic panels: Handmade from sustainable materials, these panels have high Class A flammability ratings and are ideal for waiting areas. They are also completely customizable to your taste and preference for the best in dental office acoustics.
• Perforated wood acoustic panels: Sound reverberation is decreased in adjoining rooms, suitable for waiting and reception areas where you want to limit noise transfer to and from the treatment room. These panels can be suspended for enhanced soundproofing.

Request a Free Acoustic Analysis From Soundproof Cow

Your dental office doesn’t have to be a place patients dread visiting. It can become a safe space, comforting and inviting as they wait to be seen. The treatment room should also not be feared. Adding soundproofing materials to reduce external sounds can help create a relaxing environment during their visit. Making it a memorable experience for the right reasons will certainly encourage them to see you again.

If you’re interested in soundproofing your dental office, request a free acoustic analysis from Soundproof Cow and we’ll take it from there. Call us at 866-949-9269 or complete a contact form with your inquiry today.