Bristol Dental Hospital chooses Corian® solid surface as part of a major renovation
As part of the government-funded drive to meet the national shortage of dentists in the UK, the renowned Bristol Dental Hospital teaching institution significantly upgraded the facilities and maximised student capacity.
A total of 81 new state-of the-art treatment cubicles were created over two floors, in both adult and children areas. The fresh and stylish new spaces feature work surfaces and integral sinks made from Corian® solid surface. Corian® surface, which is nonporous, durable, and does not promote the growth of mould or mildew when properly cleaned, was also specified for the Clinical Skills Laboratory and the reception desk in the hospital entrance.
The refurbishment was undertaken by dental surgery fabrications specialists Bradma, under the supervision of Dental Services Manager Michael Wheeler and with the consultation of Lead Doctor Jane Luker.
“The key consideration for the renovation was how many chairs we needed in order to deliver the curriculum and how best could we fit these in,” said Wheeler.
“We have increased capacity from 50 undergraduates to 79 and from 8 hygienists to 12. There was a limit to the actual physical expansion we could do, so careful and complex planning was required. I am delighted to say, however, that the entire project came in on time and in budget.”
Bradma completely redesigned and rebuilt the cabinetry, stud walls, service runs and worktops (replacing damaged laminate with durable and repairable Corian® solid surface) in each new treatment area. Through long established expertise and experience, they were very clear about the specifications.
“We don’t use any other surface than Corian® for dental applications,” said Steve Young, Sales Director of Bradma. “Nothing else fits the bill in terms of both the functional and the aesthetic needs.”
The design versatility of Corian® material also helped address the challenge of creating more space in the cubicles on the children’s floor. A curve tapering back from each basin section was added so that the worktops and cabinets behind could be slightly narrower in depth.
Lead Doctor Jane Luker agreed on the choice of countertop material: “Clinicians like Corian® because it’s easy to keep clean and the lack of joints makes it easier to control cross infection. What’s more it looks nice and wears very well which is a very positive point.”
The surfaces in the treatment cubicles are in Corian® Antarctica, while in the clinical skills lab, the colourway is Aqua.
Corian® delivers outstanding performance in healthcare environments. The independent organisation LGA Qualitest GmbH has certified its hygienic performance, superior to those of a variety of conventional materials, after having completed a range of comparative tests.
Corian® solid surface also contributes to the quality of air in indoor environments. The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute has designated Corian® as GREENGUARD Certified® for Indoor Air Quality. The certification ensures that Corian® solid surfaces comply with strict emission criteria.
