Not Your Father's Operatory

ImageWe've come quite a way from the belt-driven drill and the barbershop-style patient chair. Today's operatory is defined by two overriding considerations: technology and ergonomics. Just a few years ago, you didn't have to think about where to mount a flat-screen monitor or how to position your assistant's instrumentation to minimize twisting and straining. Now, such issues are critical to treatment room design.

We asked product managers from three key industry players--DentalEZ, Pelton & Crane, and A-dec--the following question:
Over the past 10 years, what have been the most significant trends in operatory equipment design?
Here's an overview of what they said...

Operative handpieces- Electric handpieces are rapidly growing in popularity. Electric motors offer better torque, bur concentricity, and the ability to do more procedures with one handpiece. Electrics are evolving, becoming lighter, more durable, and maintenance friendly.

And don't count out air turbine handpieces... the latest generation combines specialized grips, a wide range of weights and head sizes, and quiet operation.

Operatory lights- LED's are being introduced for operatory lights. LED lights are cooler which eliminates the worry of premature curing and most LED's last 10,000 hours eliminating the cost of replacement bulbs. Additionally, LED’s improve overall viewing of the oral cavity by producing a precise, consistent light pattern. And the ability to control the color spectrum is ideal for accurate shade matching at 5000° Kelvin or 4200° Kelvin. LED’s can also be programmed to eliminate all blue light from the color spectrum to provide 15,000 LUX illumination when using restorative materials and/or cements.

Other lighting advancements include expanded ranges of mounting options and articulations and light adjustments to prevent premature material curing.

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Patient chairs- More manufacturers introducing chairs with slim, narrow backs to allow the dental team better access to the oral cavity - narrow back allows them to get closer to the patient & the slim back allows them to bring the chair lower onto their legs to eliminate the need to raise their arms higher to access the oral cavity. Today's chairs offer a wider range of height to accommodate practitioners of all sizes.

Some chairs even incorporate a massage feature to improve patient comfort by creating a relaxing environment. For patient comfort, backrests and seat cushions are anatomically designed with the goal of reducing pressure points and providing exceptional support. 

Operator seating- Stool manufacturers are incorporating tilted seats to allow better blood flow and reduce health issues. Innovative backrest, belly bar, and other upper-body-support options are available for doctors' and assistants' stools to provide lumbar support and reduce health issues.

Delivery systems- The ability to build in high tech products like curing lights, scalers, cameras, electric motors. Monitor mounts added to the unit arm option. These options provide a place for everything to eliminate clutter and provide the dental team with better ergonomic access to ancillary technologies.

Cabinetry- Rear cabinets have the ability to integrate high tech products, computers and supplies to eliminate clutter and improve ergonomics. Newer cabinetry incorporates features to accommodate the specialized cabling and connection needs for new technologies as well. Also, the units have been moved from a 12:00 position to allow access without the dentist twisting or turning around. Also, look for rounded edges and seamless finishes for optimal infection control.

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