[A reader’s response]

I want to point out an issue regarding author Laura Chapa’s “The Impact of Color on Office Design” in your July/August journal. I am the practice support manager for a lab in Manchester, N.H.

Although Chapa makes some wonderful points regarding color in the office, choosing an office color directly affects patients’ restorations. Reflecting on a patient’s mouth is the color of the operatory, which directly impacts a doctor’s or assistant’s ability to correctly take a shade when redoing any type of restoration.

Doctors do a couple of things to combat this. Some use colors and accents in the waiting room and office, but paint or wallpaper operatory walls a light gray or blue. (Studies have shown that 18 percent neutral gray has no complimentary colors, so it’s perfect for shade taking.) If a doctor wants color in her operatory, she can paint or wallpaper a small room or section of it light gray and use color-corrective lighting in conjunction with it. The ideal environment in which to take a shade gets indirect sunlight from the north at noon. This can also be achieved with proper colors and lighting.

It was a great article in the sense of creating a calming atmosphere, but we must be careful not to contribute to remakes and extra chairtime.

Thank you for reading,

Jimmy Lehoux
Manchester, N.H.