Ergonomic conditions in the dental practice

Every patient is probably stressed to a certain degree on visiting the dentist. This makes it all the more important not to make the tension worse by sitting uncomfortably. Everyone benefits if the patient is sitting or lying comfortably and if the dentist and his assistant can proceed with treatment efficiently with back-friendly posture.

There is no doubt that unfavourable working positions and workflows cause back problems – something that is also possible in dental practices. 64% of dentists suffer from back problems and 42% from posture-related headache.

Equally important for patient and staff

What's needed is therefore a dentist's chair that is not just comfortable for the patient but also permits ergonomic working procedures for the practice team. This means the dentist's chair must put the dentist close to the patient in a position that permits a back-friendly posture, whether standing or sitting.

Generous horizontal adjustment is also possible so that both extremely small and very large patients can be treated in a position that is pleasant for both sides. The possibility of motor adjustments to the actual seat is also a patient-friendly option, allowing comfortable changes in position for the patient particularly during longer treatments.

Heeding all these points means that there are no longer any hindrances to a stress-visit to the dentist.

Patient's chair

• It is important for the patient's chair to permit optimum, unhindered leg room for all treatment techniques, with a backrest that gives free, unhindered access to the patient.
• Only this will let the dentist work in a back-friendly position.
• It should be possible to adjust the height of the chair from at least 35 to 90 cm to obtain the best possible distance between the bench and the floor. This allows small dentists or assistants to treat a large patient sitting on the chair and also allows them to work standing up.
• It should be possible to adjust the chair with a synchronous movement, raising or lowering the foot rest of the patient's chair by at least 20 cm at the front edge of the foot section, depending on the tilt of the back rest. This is important to arrange the patient in a favourable position.
• The chair should have a fully variable headrest (slant and trunk length).
• A shock position function must be possible.
• Appropriate additions also include back pans of differing widths, horizontal adjustment by at least 25 cm, thus creating more working space, and fully variable motor adjustment of the height of the patient's chair by about 4 cm to arrange the patient in an even better position.

Dentist's element

• It must be possible to adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the dentist's element (tray for the implements) for both dentist and assistant with minimum effort and to fix the element simply and safely in the required working position.

Foot starter

• The foot starter must move easily for the dentist and assistant and permit physiological movements of the feet and limbs without resulting in monotonous movements; as far as possible, it should be possible to use the foot starter when sitting and also when standing. A cordless foot starter is not absolutely necessary but is a further aid.

Dentist's and assistant's chair

• It is also worth paying attention to the dentist's and assistant's chair. Dynamic sitting has been possible for office workers for some time now, and should also be introduced for dentists and their assistants. The chair should go with all the user's movements and offer the spinal column optimum support when moving to the front, to the back and to the side.

Minimum requirements for the patient's chair

• The patient's chair must fulfil the following requirements for both dentist and assistant:
  • it must permit unhindered leg room for all treatment techniques
  • it must give unhindered access to the patient
  • it must be possible to move it to a lowest position of at least 35 cm
  • it must be possible to move it to a highest position of at least 90 cm
  • it must be possible to adjust it with a synchronous movement which raises or lowers the foot rest of the patient's chair depending on the tilt of the back rest
  • it must have a fully variable headrest for the slant and trunk length
  • it must permit optimum placement of the foot starter
• The patient chair must have a shock position function.
• The treatment unit must fulfil the statutory provisions and hygiene regulations.

Also appropriate for the patient's chair

• Back pans of differing widths
• Horizontal adjustment
• Fully variable motor adjustment of the height of the patient's chair

Minimum requirements for the dentist's element

• The dentist's element must fulfil the following requirements for both dentist and assistant:
  
  • it must be possible to adjust the horizontal and vertical position with minimum effort and to fix the element simply and safely in the required working position.

Minimum requirements foot starter

• The foot starter must fulfil the following requirements for both dentist and assistant:
  • it must permit physiological movements of the feet and limbs
  • it must move easily
  • it must permit optimum use when sitting and standing

Also appropriate for the foot starter

• Cordless operation

Minimum requirements for the dentist's and assistant's chair

• It must be adjustable in height in compliance with all statutory requirements
• It must be possible to adjust the inclination of the seat (by at least 5 degrees)
• It must have a specially shaped seat to prevent sliding forwards
• The control elements must be easily accessible
• It must be offered with castors of differing hardness (for different floors)

Also appropriate for the dentist's and assistant's chair

• The backrest must be adjustable in height (with an adjustment of at least approx. 6 cm).
  In this case (chair with backrest), the chair must have a synchronised mechanism and adjustable seat depth.

• Treatment unit KaVo ESTETICA E70 Vision
• Treatment unit KaVo ESTETICA E80 Vision
• Dentist's chair KaVo PHYSIO Evo

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