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Dental Office Design: How Many Dental Operatories Do You Really Need?

How Many Operatories Should You Build? The Real Math Behind Dental Office Design

If you’re opening a new dental practice, one of the earliest (and most stressful) decisions you’ll make is about your floor plan—and specifically, how many operatories to build. It may sound like a small detail, but your operatory count will influence nearly every aspect of your practice: clinical flow, patient volume, financial growth, and even your long-term happiness as an owner.

Let’s make it simple.

3 + 2 = 5

At Ideal Practices, after supporting over 900 successful startups, we can confidently say: for most one-doctor practices, five operatories is the sweet spot—three for the dentist, two for hygiene.

Here’s why this formula works—and when it doesn’t.

Why 5 Operatories Is Often the Best Starting Point

If you’re planning a growth-oriented startup, this setup hits the mark:

  • 3 doctor ops allow for restorative, overflow, and emergency care

  • 2 hygiene ops support the average diagnostic need to keep one doctor booked 4 days a week

  • Flexibility for multi-functional use in early stages

  • Scalable foundation for future hiring or expanded services

This configuration balances clinical efficiency with patient comfort and operational flow. It also aligns with the Startup Practice Blueprint’s future-proofing strategy.

When 5 Ops Isn’t the Right Number

There are exceptions. And they usually fall into two camps:

1. Growth Track Startups
These are practices aiming to scale quickly. You may still build 5 operatories but only equip 2 or 3 initially to conserve budget. We often advise clients to build out all 5 ops with plumbing and wiring and equip just what’s needed. That allows for a leaner opening without limiting your growth trajectory.

2. Refinement Practices
Doctors in the refinement stage—often closer to retirement or looking to practice a certain way—may prioritize comfort, simplicity, or unique patient experiences. If production growth isn’t a top priority, you might customize your operatory count to match your lifestyle, not just your production goals.

What If You Plan to Sell Someday?

Here’s the caveat: If you plan to retire or sell within 5–10 years, shrinking your practice (and your op count) could decrease its valuation. Banks and buyers will assess your production over the past few years—not your potential. If you downsize before exiting, you risk losing leverage.

Financial Tip: Equip Only What You Need at First

Don’t panic about the cost of building five ops. Most of our clients equip 2–3 to start and leave the rest wired and plumbed for the future. That alone can save tens of thousands without compromising your ability to grow.

And when it’s time to equip the rest? You’ll have the patients, production, and cash flow to do it wisely.

Want to Know the Right Op Count for You?

We’d love to help you figure it out—based on your goals, your patient model, and your clinical vision.

Book a free strategy call with our team:
idealpractices.com/consultation-call

Next Steps: Learn More About Dental Startup Design

This decision will shape your next decade. Let's get it right from Day One.