A Dental Chair Designed for Pain-Free Practice

While dentists and hygienists go to great lengthsto ensure every patient’s experience in the chair is as pain-free as possible, the same concern is not always given to their own well-being. As a certified ergonomics assessment specialist and personal trainer, as well as a registered dental hygienist, Katrina Klein can testify from her more than 25 years in the industry that, “at one point or another,” most dental practitioners grapple with work-related pain.

Dealing with the Pain

“Because of the nature of what we do, we often face a number of musculoskeletal disorders,” Klein said. “Everything from neck, back, andshoulder pain to hip discomfort, tight hamstrings, muscle imbalances, and more.” In many cases, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can impede practitioners’ quality of life, ability to work, and may even lead to professional burnout and early retirement. Citing recent statistics, Klein shared that an astounding 90% of dentists and up to 96% of hygienists complain of body aches and pains. On top of that, a personal survey she conducted among a group of clinicians revealed that 47% of respondents felt their pain was simply “part of the package” in their profession.

But working in dental settings doesn’t have to be, as Klein puts it, “a biomechanical nightmare.” By choosing equipment with an eye towards ergonomics, practitioners can prevent pain and discomfort and achieve healthier, longer, more satisfying careers in dentistry.

“When it comes to ergonomics, the name of the game is making the workspace work for the worker,” noted Klein, whose company ErgoFitLife offers ergonomic assessments, personal training, and education to dental practices nationwide. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), leading risk factors for workplace injuries and the development of MSDs include performing repetitive tasks and repeatedly working in awkward postures. Unfortunately, as Klein shared, the often-oversized design of many dental patient chairs forces clinicians to hunch, lean, twist, or otherwise contort their bodies to deliver treatment every day. For this reason, she suggests practices consider a streamlined, ergonomic alternative, such as the Forest 3900 dental chair from DENTALEZ. 

Ergonomics for Everyone

The Forest 3900 dental chair offers several standout features that afford practitioners better visibility and access to the oral cavity while maintaining the neutral body position that keeps pain and injuries at bay. “A huge reason I love the Forest 3900 is that it has a double articulating headrest,” Klein shared. “It lets us position the patient’s chin and mouth up in the air, even if their body can’t lie completely flat.” In her experience, this design is especially helpful for treating aging patients who may find it uncomfortable or physiologically impossible to properly position their head and body.

Klein also noted that, while many manufacturers are making their chairs larger to accommodate a heavier patient population, the Forest 3900’s dimensions uniquely prioritize both patient and practitioner comfort.

“Down where the elbows land, the chair is wider to accommodate the patient’s size, but narrower at the shoulders where we need access,” she explained. “This gives us closer proximity to the oral cavity without having to lean over, which puts us in a more neutral working position.”

Concurrently, the Forest 3900 lacks the bulky underside found on many other dental chairs. Instead, it opts for a thin back that, while giving patients full lumbar support, allows clinicians to comfortably position their knees under the chair while working. “With other chairs, you have to ask yourself, ‘Which way do I want to hurt today?’” Klein said. “But you don’t have to do that with the Forest 3900.”

Coming Soon to an Operatory Near You…

DENTALEZ is gearing up to launch its latest invention—the 6400 Chair—a new model that delivers all the benefits of the Forest 3900, plus another ergonomic advantage: an additional 7.5 inches of maximum seat height.

“Standing is one way for us to vary our posture and practice in neutral,” Klein explained. “But if you’re of average height or on the taller side, and the patient chair only elevates to the standard 29 inches, that becomes a challenge.”

When the Forest 6400 launches later this year, Klein predicts that the 36.5-inch chair will be a “game-changer” for dentistry, helping many more clinicians practice without pain.