Final answer:
The workload factor used in the standard man-hour equation for determining the number of dental officers at a dental clinic is Patient Load.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of measuring dental clinic staffing requirements, the workload factor used in the standard man-hour equation to determine the number of dental officers earned at a given dental clinic is A) Patient Load. Patient load is considered a critical factor because it directly influences the need for dental officers; it assesses the number of patients that requires services. The greater the patient load, the higher the number of dental officers calculated to be needed to adequately serve the population. Time efficiency, complexity index, and treatment duration might affect individual productivity or scheduling but are not the primary factors in determining the earned number of dental officers.