Press

Over the years, LDA has published an extensive catalogue of articles for Australasian Dental Practice and Australasian Dentist magazines, ranging from surgery design features to columns addressing finance, practice marketing and various aspects of the design process.

To view any of these articles, which can be downloaded as PDF files, please select one of the following categories:

LDA Documents

Q&A Style Guide

Title	Issue	Overview
Style Guide #01 2007	Jan / Feb 2007	Design Stages Q: I am preparing to refurbish my dental surgery and would like to know the stages involved from the start of the project to when the new rooms will be ready? Internal Graphics Q: I have recently completed a refurbishment of my practice, yet the walls in the treatment rooms of my practice are still quite plain. Do you have any suggestions for how I can make these areas more interesting for my patients?

Style Guide #01 2008	Jan / Feb 2008	Site Location Q: I’ve decided to move interstate and have not yet made a decision regarding the new suburb I am considering. I am looking for some tips about location: what I should be looking for that will attract new patients and repeat business? Web Site Design Q: I’ve had my own practice for about 5 years and am in the middle of re-branding in the hope of bringing in new patients. I am considering introducing a web site – how do I approach this and is it really worth having one?

Style Guide #01 2009	Jan / Feb 2009	Q: I understand that I need to obtain approval from my local council for the fit-out of my new practice. How long does this process take and once the approval has been given, can I start building immediately?

Style Guide #02 2007	Mar / Apr 2007	Converting a House into a Surgery Q: I’ve found a house in a great location that I would like to move my dental practice into; does this usually work? Using Photography in Marketing Q: I require photographs of happy, smiling individuals to use in the marketing of my practice, how do I go about obtaining these and what should I be aware of?

Style Guide #02 2008	May / June 2008	Heritage House Conversion into Surgery Q: I have recently purchased a Victorian style terrace house and wish to convert the downstairs area into my dental surgery and live upstairs. What are the council regulations and heritage aspects I should be aware of? Space & Corridors Q: I have a pet hate about my practice; the corridor from the waiting room to the surgeries is pokey and narrow—what can I do to make it seem more inviting?

Style Guide #02 2009	Mar / Apr 2009	The Colours of Your Business Q: I’m interested in the powerful effects of colour and the psychology behind its use within design and surrounding environments. Can you elaborate and provide any tips / guidelines to using colour within my own practice? A: As a powerful form of communication, colour plays a vitally important role in the world in which we live in. Colour captures attention, changes actions, and causes reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood pressure or suppress your appetite.....

Style Guide #03 2007	May / June 2007	Q: I am starting a new general dental practice and have no idea what to call it! Can you provide advice regarding the development of a name – what do I need to be mindful of? Q: I am concerned that the appearance my new fit out will be too ostentatious, leading my patients to believe my services are now too expensive! As I do not want to alienate my patient base, what advice regarding interiors can you offer?

Style Guide #03 2008	July / Aug 2008	Heritage House Conversion into Surgery Q: “I would like to upgrade the waiting room and reception areas of my practice. How do I go about this and what are the issues I need to be aware of?” A: The principles of functionality and aesthetics apply to all healthcare facilities, new or existing. Existing practices each have differing requirements to upgrade, depending on their current state. It is best to challenge a facility from the core up, if money is to be spent on upgrading. It is easy to ‘waste’ money by trying to ‘save’ money in this regard.

Style Guide #04 2008	Sept / Oct 2008	Space Allocation Q: “I’m establishing a general, family-based dental practice and I’ve just started looking for the right sized premises for my needs. Can you give me a guideline for how much room is needed if I plan to operate 3, or possibly 4, chairs?” Reception Area Q: “I have a thriving dental practice in central New South Wales and I want to create an opening impression that will welcome new patients and reflect the provincial nature of the region – any ideas for my reception area?”

Style Guide #05 2008	Nov / Dec 2008	Relocation in current economic climate Q: “I’ve been in the same rooms for a number of years now…with consideration to the current economic climate, I’m working out the advantages of refurbishing my practice or moving on, do you have any thoughts?” Lighting Q: “Do you have any advice regarding the aesthetic appeal of my practice, particularly relating to lighting levels?”

Style Guide #09 2007	#9 2007	Design Team Q: I’m considering opening my own dental practice but the concept of starting from scratch is overwhelming, do you have any suggestions about where to start in terms of designers and builders? Branding & Marketing Q: I’m seeking to create a ‘new look’ for the graphic presentation of my existing surgery, and I’m encountering a number of terms, could you help explain the difference between “Marketing” and “Branding”?

Style Guide #10 2007	#10 2007	Colour Schemes Q: I’ve decided to freshen up my surgery with a fresh coat of paint and a new colour scheme. I’ve heard a lot about how different colours can affect people’s moods and perceptions, can you give me any tips on which colours are best to use or how I’d go about choosing a scheme? Integrated Design: Graphics & Interiors Q: My practice has reached a stage where I need to move to new premises. I’ve been reading about how a combination of both a new interior and graphic identity would be more beneficial in the long run; would you be able to explain these benefits?