A Dental Chair that Takes Comfort to New Heights

Like any job spent performing repetitive movements day after day, dentistry is demanding work. As a result, practitioners often assume that chronic aches and pains are simply “part of the package.” But according to Katrina Klein, a registered dental hygienist and certified ergonomics assessment specialist, work-related musculoskeletal disorders are always an avoidable hazard. When we apply ergonomic principles to dentistry—or, as Klein puts it, “make the workspace work for the worker”—it can spell the difference between practicing with pain and a healthier, happier career.

Ergonomic Advantages

One aspect of dentistry where ergonomics can be game changing is operator posture. While prolonged sitting puts increasing pressure on the lumbar spine, standing keeps the back and other anatomy in an ideal, neutral position. Standing likewise allows for micro-shifting, which, as Klein explained, “Means you can go back and forth on your feet, alleviating chronic compression in the joints of your ankles, knees, hips, and even in your back.” In turn, she recommends that dentists and hygienists adopt a “varied posture” to save energy and get through the workday without discomfort: “If you're a hygienist, you want to see every other patient standing,” she advised. “If you're a dentist, you can do all your hygiene checks and every 1 to 3 procedures standing.”

However, for many practitioners, at least one obstacle stands in the way of implementing ergonomic dentistry: the dental chair. Most chairs on the market are too short for dentists and hygienists of average height or taller to stand without hunching, bending, or otherwise positioning their bodies out of neutral. Many chairs likewise feature a bulky, oversized design that, while comfortable for patients, makes it a challenge for clinicians to maintain a healthy sitting posture. Recognizing the need for an alternative that meets all clinical needs, DENTALEZ developed the Forest 6400—an innovative dental chair with a host of ergonomic benefits, including an unprecedented 36.5 inches of maximum seat height.

Practice Without Pain, Sitting or Standing

As the highest-rising chair on the market, the Forest 6400 is designed to accommodate dental professionals of all heights. Clinicians can choose between 17 to 36.5 inches of seat height, affording them the flexibility to switch between sit-down and stand-up dentistry as needed. In addition, the 6400 chair sports a thin, tapered back and provides 60 degrees of swivel rotation—features that enable quick and easy access to the oral cavity, while helping practitioners maintain a healthy, pain-free posture throughout the day.

Comfort Meets Care

Of course, the Forest 6400 offers numerous perks for patients as well. The chair’s back fully supports the elbows and lumbar region and, as Klein noted, the optional dual-articulating headrest is perfect for treating patients with limited mobility. Every Forest 6400 chair includes a plush Ultraleather cushion, with the option to add neck and knee pillows, as well as heat and massage functions. To top it off, dentists can style the 6400 to match their offices by selecting from a range of designer-friendly paint and upholstery colors. Together, these features all but guarantee a more comfortable and satisfying care experience for every patient in the chair.

Standard-Setting Smart Technology

Forest 6400 users also benefit from several state-of-the-art smart features, designed to help them get the most out of their investments and practice with greater peace of mind. Since mechanical positioning technology is reportedly the No. 1 point of failure for dental chairs, the Forest 6400 instead utilizes digital sensors to reliably maintain chair positions.

According to DENTALEZ, the 6400 is the only chair in the industry that offers monitoring services at no extra charge, as integrated Aeras Intel technology continuously collects actionable data on chair efficiency, maintenance needs, and more so teams can minimize disruptions to treatment and prevent downtime.

Overall, thanks to its elegant blend of ergonomics and intelligence, it’s easy to see why the Forest 6400 dental chair is primed to alleviate pain points for practices and set new standards for clinical comfort.