The Ergonomic Design of Dental Assistant Chairs
Companies such as A-Dec, Brewer, and Beaverstate design dental assistant chairs to alleviate discomfort and initiate muscular health while performing day-to-day procedures. How exactly do they design this comfort? Why do they choose the design elements for these chairs, and how should a dental assistant sit in these chairs to optimize their work?
Table 1: Comparison of Prices
Stool Model | Collins Dental Price | Dental Planet Price |
---|---|---|
Galaxy 2065 Assistant Stool by Galaxy | $431.00 | $459.68 |
Galaxy 2025-R Assistant Stool by Galaxy | N/A | $605.25 |
Denver Dental Assistant Saddle Stool | $815.00 | $834.10 |
Virtu Dental Assistant Stool w/Back | $1,000.00 | $1,043.10 |
Mirage Assistant Stool Model AS-1101 by TPC | N/A | $402.80 |
Table 2: Comparison of Features
Stool Model | Seat Adjustments | Backrest | Footring | Arm Rest | Material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Galaxy 2065 Assistant Stool by Galaxy | 3-way | Body | Yes | Yes | High-resilience foam, powder coated |
Galaxy 2025-R Assistant Stool by Galaxy | 4-way | Contoured | N/A | Yes | High resilience foam |
Denver Dental Assistant Saddle Stool | Dual-level | Saddle | N/A | Yes | Closed cell foam, standard vinyl |
Virtu Dental Assistant Stool w/Back | Active Tilt seating | Mesh | N/A | Yes | Mesh, fiber-reinforced frame |
Mirage Assistant Stool Model AS-1101 by TPC | 6-way lumbar support | N/A | Yes | Yes | Firm upholstery foam |
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Although the topic of chairs may seem like a minor issue when handling patients, dental assistants have an essential job in the office to assist their primary dentists with tasks during procedures, checkups, and other assisting duties. Dental assistants must be able to be focused and on-hand at their dentist’s need, as chairside assisting plays a key role in the success of practice because it gives the patient awareness of how their care is being treated and helps initiate four-hand technique for detail-orientated treatments. For dental assistants, lots of preparations are needed for their dental assistant role and posture is one of the essential parts of any dental job.
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A dental assistant that leans into their patients during procedures will typically experience extreme amounts of strain along the lower and middle muscles of the back. Dental assistants who have years of experience in this field will tend to need an early retirement because of the strain assisting has on the body. For undergraduates, examinations for their careers involve posture correction to keep in line with specific dental protocols. When patients sit in a dental chair, their position within the chair should be between 60 and 90 degrees to give the dentist and dental assistant complete access. The feet should be flat along the ground, and if the chair sits too high, the chair should be adjusted using its levers to get close to the patient as needed.
When dentists and dental assistants don’t sit in proper positions, they become more at risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Dental assistant chairs in their design should accommodate these requirements as much as possible, including their backrests, levers, and seat cushioning. All aspects of dental assistant chairs are crucial to the practice’s success, even if they seem like a minor facet to the countless objectives dentists pays attention to when running their appointments.
To properly judge the quality of dental assistant chairs, these chairs should accommodate these features:
Proper Weight Distribution – The relationship between the backrest and the seat of an assistant chair must aid with synchronized movement during daily routine proceedings. Designs that feature backrests and seats need to contribute towards a neutral position. Thus, companies that produce materials such as seating foam and cushion gel tend to promote more comfort during seating.
Contoured Arm Rests – The armrest allows for the assistant to rest their arms while the dentist performs procedures. It keeps the arms at a steady level within the 60 to 90-degree range and should be seen as a guide for dental assistants when positioning themselves around the patient.
Lumbar Support – Lumbar support can play a part in how dental assistant positions themselves during procedures by affecting the middle parts of the back. Dental assistant chairs should cater to the spine’s natural curvature by either conforming to it or keeping a straight, consistent connection between the backrest and seat.
Adjustable Levers – Levers help determine the height the dental assistant needs to be to assist in treating the patient. Levers for adjustment should be at an easily accessible position from where the feet lay and not construct movement from the chair.
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1. Galaxy 2065 Assistant Stool
by Galaxy
The Galaxy Model 2065 offers the basic setup for any new practice in need of assistant stools. The model offers all benefits of Galaxy’s 2060 doctor stool with an ergonomic seat designed for long hours, a 3-way adjustment for a seat height between 23” and 30”, a footring for footrest, and a body support arm for general positioning. The 2065 stool can be manufactured with a ratcheting mechanism if requested, and the stool’s materials are made with high-resilience foam for cushioning. The powder-coated base and the light gray casters allow for the stool to gain easy movement during activity.
Collins Dental Price: $431.00
Dental Planet Price: $459.68
2. Galaxy 2025-R Assistant Stool
by Galaxy
The Galaxy 2025 has additional features that align with the 2065 but comes with a three-point contoured backrest for flexibility while moving. Its cutout seat design allows blood flow to circulate through the legs, and the backrest and seat are made with high-resilience foam for comfort during seating. The stool features an adjustable armrest for easy positioning and 4-way adjustment levers for the seat tilt, seat height, backrest tilt, and backrest height. Seat height can be adjusted between 23” and 30”, and ratcheting mechanisms are available upon request.
Dental Planet Price: $605.25
3. Denver Dental Assistant Saddle
Stool by Crown Seating
The Crown Seating C130A Saddle Stool defines itself by its distinct “saddle” seat shape, aimed to improve support and comfort by preventing pressure buildup along the tailbone. Its design allows for multi-angle positioning, creating improved balance for anyone who sits in the chair for long periods of activity, and its conformed, small shape allows for any assistant to reach their patient with maximum efficiency. The stool also features dual-level adjustment for height and tilt, closed cell foam for esteem cushioning, a ratcheting arm for adjustment, and standard vinyl upholstery for easy cleaning.
Collins Dental Price: $815.00
Dental Planet Price: $834.10
4. Virtu Dental Assistant Stool
w/Back by Crown Seating
The Crown Virtu stands out among its vinyl competitors by integrating a mesh backrest and fiber-reinforced frame into the ergonomics of its support system, creating air-like motion and precise tension to support the body as it adjusts and moves. Crown’s patented ZenWave allows for the person to move without exerting too much pressure and contains an Active Tilt seating plate to pivot the body into alignment. Its free-flowing backrest and seat give wider support that expands to just beyond the back and alleviates sore backs and legs to improve blood flow. Its mesh material promotes cool air during perspiration, and the stool can be adjusted between 24.5” and 31”.
Collins Dental Price: $1,000.00
Dental Planet Price: $1,043.10
5. Mirage Assistant Stool
Model AS-1101 by TPC
TPC’s Mirage collection features a wide range of operatory and assistant stools made with firm upholstery foam and a five-leg base 24” in diameter. The stool’s six-way lumbar support allows for height, back, and seat adjustments for easy positioning during chair-side assistance, and the stool comes with an adjustable foot ring for ease of foot placement. Its casters promote movement through both carpet and tile, and the armrest can be adjustable for right or left use.
Dental Planet Price: $402.80