Dental chairs and what they do

Many dentists consider the dental chair to be one of the most important pieces of equipment in the surgery; a good dental chair will make it easier for dentists to work as well as ensuring that the patient feels relaxed and comfortable.

In addition to the basic chair model, there are also a number of additional features which can help to enhance the experience for the patient, as well as making the dentist’s life easier and making the area more workable. 

Examples of additional chair features include foot or chair mounted controls and chair motors.

Foot controls

Foot controls enable dentists and dental assistants to operate switches without having to move away from the chair or stop during a procedure. This ultimately leads to a greater level of proficiency for the dentist and a better level of comfort for the patient. 

Foot controls also help to eliminate bending and getting into awkward positions, which will help to reduce the risk of the dentist developing back or neck pain.

Chair controls

Chair controls enable the dentist to adapt the position and tilt of the chair so that they can work at an optimum position. The chair controls enable dentists to work without having to stoop or reach and many models have a preset feature, 

which enables you to save certain positions for each dentist; this is particularly beneficial if several dentists use the same dental chair.

Chair motor

Motors in the chair control the movement of the chair; the chair can be moved into various different positions using switches on the chair. Motors enable dentist to work in a comfortable position and also ensure that the patient is comfortable throughout the procedure.

Chair upholstery      

Chair upholstery may not seem like an obvious bonus feature; however, the upholstery of the chair can make a huge difference to the patient’s experience. Now there are various designs available,

 which are tailored to provide maximum comfort for the patient and you can also buy fabrics which are bacteria resistant.

Neck and back pain are extremely common amongst dentists as they are often stooping and reaching forwards. To combat this, many dentists are choosing to use Optergo Prism spectacles,

which enable dentists to see what they are doing without bending or stooping.

The spectacles have been developed using the latest research and are the only spectacles designed specifically for dentists. Optergo have also gone one step further and started selling dental chairs. 

The chairs have been designed to provide maximum comfort for both patients and dentists and claim to preserve optimum ergonomic posture for the dentist, which will reduce the possibility of back and neck pain.

  Patient comfort with dental chair

The dental chair is an essential piece of equipment, which can have a huge impact on patients and dentists alike.

For many people, going to the dentist is a traumatic experience and one which they worry about for a considerable amount of time before their scheduled appointment.

Some patients have such a severe fear of going to the dentist that they start to suffer from extreme anxiety before they have even set foot in the surgery, otherwise known as dental phobia. 

For many, the dental chair represents the ultimate challenge and sitting in the chair can trigger all sorts of emotion.

Making the dental chair patient friendly

In order to help phobic and anxious patients, it is important that the dental chair is as comfortable as possible. A comfortable chair will help to make patients feel more relaxed and help to distract them from the procedure. 

Many dentists also use other methods to distract and entertain their patients, such as putting on a film or some music. 

If the patient is sat comfortably and entertained the chances are that they will feel much more positive and this will also help to ensure the dentist can focus on the task in hand, rather than worrying about their patient feeling anxious and concerned.

Having a dental chair that functions as per your needs is also important when it comes to patient comfort. 

If you are unhappy with your dental chair then chances are the patient will not receive the same level of treatment as they would if you were completely comfortable in your surroundings. 

This is why purchasing a dentist chair for your practice is such a key decision to its future running.

The dental chair is important but the rest of the surgery also needs to be tailored towards patient comfort and satisfaction.

The surgery should be clean , calm , relaxing and warm , as this will make patients feel at ease as soon as they walk through the door.

Warm Regards

Richard knezevic

Dentplex Pty Ltd