Washington DC, the USA’s capital, is home to some of the top international organizations and is a significant world political capital. The city gets over 20 million visitors per year and has demographics ranging across whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, and Asians. Choosing to set up a dental office here will ensure a steady stream of patients, but you will also encounter a lot of competition. Hence, choosing the right location for your dental office in Washington DC is crucial. You can consult expert realtors for your Washington DC Dental Office Space – Health Pro Realty Group or other such groups, to check out what a good place for dental practice would seem like. Here are some tips to help you choose the location.
- Neighborhood
There are always specific neighborhoods that are considered the others in terms of livability rating, amenities, and transportation. Areas in Washington DC in and around Clarendon, Logan Circle, Capitol Hills, or Forest Hills are most coveted. However, these areas are also costly, and you would need a substantial amount of investment to buy or rent a dental office space. However, you will also get a steady stream of patients, and you can also expect a sizable fee for your service. Find out about the price per square foot in these localities.
On the other hand, even if you have found an office building in your preferred location, it should not be tucked out of sight, or the signage should not drown under other billboards, which is entirely possible considering how busy DC can be.
Your practice will not yield results if the patients cannot find your office. Try to find a building that is easily accessible. Even if the office space is small initially, you can always upgrade to larger premises when your practice starts thriving.
- Demographics
It would help if you considered the demographics of the various Washington DC areas when searching for a location. Try to gather data about the average household size and the residents’ average age in a locality. Dental problems can vary according to gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle choices as it has a direct impact on one’s food habit, which is a significant marker for dental problems.
Washington DC has people of various ethnicities and backgrounds, which might make your research a little tricky at first but will also help you narrow down on your choices. Other factors like population density, type of jobs, number of insurance holders can also give you an idea about the medical practices.
- Competition
As Washington DC is one of the most important cities globally, there are many private and public medical practices here, including dental clinics. According to the American Dental Association, having at least one dentist to every 1500 patients is a good competition ratio, but Washington DC could have more than that number of dentists. However, you need to determine what kind of population base you are going to serve.
Do you want to specialize in a particular type of dentistry, like orthodontics? Or do you only want to cater to the elderly or only want to concentrate on pediatric dentistry? In that case, choose a location where your specialized services will be of maximum demand. Adapting yourself to the region’s needs will always bring you a stream of patients, even in a highly competitive city like Washington DC.
- Look from the Patient’s Perspective
While choosing your dental office location, for a moment, stop thinking about your practice and look at the scenario from a patient’s perspective. As a patient, what would you have wanted from a dental clinic in the city? What would you have wanted in the office in the form of services and amenities? Is commuting to the location in Washington DC convenient from all parts of the city? Choosing a central location in Washington DC like downtown, Dupont Circle, Georgetown and more can help with accessibility and connectivity.
Once you have figured out the solution to those questions, you need to look at locations that will provide your patients with these amenities. According to the American Dental Association, 19% of adult patients do not visit a dentist because they cannot find one in their preferred location or the dental office does not have the amenities they want. These patients could be yours if you can tap into their requirements.
With these factors in mind, you can find the perfect location for your dental office space, even in a high-profile and busy city like Washington DC. Make sure the paperwork is correct, and you have some financing, and all would be well. Seeking professional guidance before setting up your Washington DC Dental Office Space – from Health Pro Realty Group or other such groups, can help you with the end to end process of setting up your dental office in Washington DC.
