When you think of ergonomics, you often think of the equipment you wear, hold or sit upon. However, the equipment that surrounds you can have just as great an impact as the equipment that is in constant contact with your body. The dental chair can greatly impact operator posture and must allow close positioning for the dentist. Delivery systems are just as key, since different styles have different effects on the operator’s body mechanics, sometimes resulting in movement dysfunction, shoulder, joint or low back problems.
Of course it’s important that your patient is comfortable during treatment, but when you compare how many hours a year the average patient spends in a dental chair, with the time the average dentist spends hovering over it, who’s the one really at risk of developing discomfort or pain?
As the problem of work-related pain and injuries among dentists has come to the forefront in the profession, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the ergonomic features of patient chairs from the professionals’ point of view. These include features which facilitate neutral posture of the spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist; and limit excessive reaching. It’s now widely recognised that close proximity is key.
The delivery system
Each delivery system has its pros and cons and can have a profound effect on the operator’s musculoskeletal health and productivity - both positively and negatively. Some are better suited to four-handed surgeries, some work best for taller operators and others lend themselves well to higher productivity. Understanding these differences will help you to select the right system for your team.
Having cutting edge technology built into your delivery system makes perfect sense; placing the most up to date products and systems at your fingertips. Dental manufacturer Acteon develops its new ranges in partnership with universities and clinicians to best address the needs of practitioners and their teams.
SoproCare is a device that lets you see and show patients decay at the earliest possible stage. Its use of fluorescence technology reveal caries, new and old dental plaque, and even gingival inflammation. The SP Newtron module is a multi-clinic piezo-ultrasonic generator that drives four modes through one single dial - perio, endo, scaling and boost. The new Riskontrol is a disposable three in one syringe tip. The Riskontrol tip air and water tubes are positioned with accuracy to ensure perfect circulation of air water, and the tip is locked to ensure it can’t be accidentally ejected.
Conclusion
Ergonomic features found in well-designed dental chair and delivery systems are of paramount importance to the comfort and health of the dentist and the dental team. A happy team is what any patient wants to experience on their visit to a practice.
With the right equipment patients can be treated in a fraction of the time they had always envisaged, the discomfort both during and following any treatment will be minimal, and they can be a part of the whole treatment planning process, getting a clear visual picture of how the treatment they decide on will improve their looks, confidence and lives. All of these benefits are available to patients if dentists invest in the right dental equipment.