Introduction
The dental chair is an essential fixture in every dental clinic. With the advancements in medical technology also comes advancements in equipment.
The dental chair is a piece of interesting equipment as it can be considered as the core of any dental clinic. All procedures will be done in this equipment, and it is the first thing that patients will notice going in. In that regard, the dental chair must be welcoming and comfortable to the patient. For the dentist, the dental chair must be reliable and convenient.
With two types of dental chairs to choose from: hydraulic and electric, it can be quite a daunting task for new dentists to pick the right one. This is because both hydraulic and electric dental chairs offer something different to the table. With both having their own advantages and disadvantages.
Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dental Chair
Functionality
A smart looking dental chair will give the ideal first impression to a patient. A dental chair complete with all the necessary accessories such as in-depth control panels, foot control, and programmable seat positions will elicit confidence and security to the patient. For the dentist, having all of these features on hand will improve their effectiveness by a significant percentage.
Of course, having all the modern accessories and dental equipment will be for naught if the dental chair itself is unreliable. At the center of a dependable dental clinic are the dentist and the dental chair. As long as the dental chair is up to industry standards in terms of construction, the dentist will be able to deliver highly productive results. Simply put, what is a blacksmith without his tools?
A reliable dental chair must remain dependable and in operating order for at least a decade. Keep that in mind; ten years is the bare minimum of how long a dental chair should last. Check reviews of noteworthy dental chair manufacturers to help point you in the right direction when hunting for a dental chair.
Comfort
This is the most crucial aspect to consider on the side of the patient. Dental chairs must have an ergonomic design, which ensures higher support for the patient as well as for the dentist and their staff/assistant.
For the Patient’s Comfort
From the patient’s perspective, a visit to the dentist can be quite an anxiety-fueled process. This is why it is vital to reduce the stress the patient is experiencing from the get-go. Having an extraordinarily well-designed and comfortable dental chair will be able to accomplish this with ease.
The dental chair should provide ample cushioning to the patient. It should also be able to deliver excellent support to their posture as they lay down. The last thing you need is to compound the patient’s anxiety with an off-kilter dental chair that causes the patient to strain instead of relaxing.
Thanks to the advancements of dental chair design and construction, you can find dental chairs that are designed to sync with the patient’s posture. This adaptability technology will effectively reduce the amount of time repositioning the dental chair during operation. The headrest should also be taken into account and be ensured that it is entirely adjustable to accommodate adults and children. Other features to consider include a built-in massager and heating units that will further improve the experience of the patient.
For the Dentist’s Comfort
Of course, comfort is not exclusive to just the patient. To optimize the productivity and efficiency of the dentist, they too should be considered in this respect as well. With that in mind, below are some crucial aspects of the dental chair that should be taken into account top optimize its comfort and effectiveness for the dentist.
First, the dental chair should offer the dentist mobility and maneuverability within and around the patient. The dental chair should be designed with the utmost focus on providing the dentist with as much option for comfortable positioning as possible.
A good rule of thumb here is to avoid dental chairs with a considerably wider backrest. While this will offer patients better comfort, it will make it harder for dentists to position themselves correctly. Avoid these types of dental chair backrest altogether. Instead, go for dental chairs with a sleeker, somewhat narrower backrest.
Find the middle ground here; it should be just wide enough to accommodate all patients. But narrow enough to provide dentists with optimum maneuverability around the dental chair. As an added note, look for dental chairs that have mechanical chair positioning functionality. Dental chairs with these types of positioning mechanism are considered the ones that allow optimum access to the patent.
Design
Go into any dental clinic, and I guarantee that the dental chair is the first fixture you will initially notice. This is why the aesthetic of the dental chair is essential as it will be the one to form the patient’s first impression on your clinic.
Is the dental chair look warm and inviting or does it appear cold and clinical? The look of the dental chair will provide a much-needed assurance to the patient. Fortunately, dental chairs can be fully customized to match the interior design of the clinic.
Every major exterior part of the dental chair is fully customizable with different color fabrics and upholstery. This allows the dental chair to be fully integrated into any clinic, no matter the aesthetics of the establishment is.
I highly recommend investing in upholstery kits. These kits contain all the necessary items needed to clean and maintain upholstery material properly. This is important as upholstery is susceptible to wear and tear over time. Since dental chairs primarily use padding, it is best to have this kit on-hand to help retain the appearance of your dental chair.
Dental Chair Operatory Accessories
Most dental chair manufacturers offer packages that include all necessary configurations such as dental delivery systems and light mounting. It might be smart to go for these packages for better convenience during installation. This is because wirings and electronics are already combined with the dental chair design, so there is no need to rewire electrical sockets within the clinic.
However, buying parts separately also has its advantages. For example, purchase dental chair and accessories separately allows for better customization when it comes to positioning the chair and the installation of the dental delivery system.
One benefit of using free-standing dental chairs is that it can help reduce the anxiety of the patient. This is due to the instruments being out of the patient’s view during the said procedure. With a more open space around the dental chair, it can help create a more relaxing environment for the patient.