What is the minimum floor area required for one dental unit in the orthodontic department?

• A. 10 m²
• B. 12 m²
• C. 7 m²
• D. 5 m²

Answer: (C)

Space planning for a dental unit requires enough floor area to fit the chair, the clinician and assistant, essential equipment, and a clear zone for safe movement and aseptic workflow. Seven square metres gives a practical minimum to accommodate the chair footprint (the chair itself plus its immediate footprint) and still leave roughly a metre of clearance around for the clinician to move, reach the instrument tray, access hoses and accessories, and place a small cabinet or sterilization area without crowding. This size supports comfortable work posture, ease of patient access, and proper infection-control spacing. A significantly smaller area, like five square metres, would feel cramped, hinder movement, and complicate instrument and waste flow. Larger spaces, while more comfortable, aren’t needed to meet the minimum functional requirements, so seven square metres represents the smallest viable footprint for a single dental unit in the orthodontic department.