Have a Seat! An Ergonomic, Comfortable Dental Stool

A stool is a place to sit, but in dentistry, it’s so much more. While digital workflows and innovative, esthetic restorative materials may seem to garner all the attention, it’s the omnipresent dental stool that sets the tone for superior patient care. First introduced over seven decades ago, sit-down dentistry has now become the predominant method for delivering dental care, making dental stools a staple of every practice. But the static position and repetitive motions inherent in most dental procedures, all while seated, can quickly lead to posture and musculoskeletal disorders, both of which can wreak havoc on clinicians’ ability to deliver superior patient treatments. In addition to health concerns, clinicians can’t provide top-notch dental care if they’re seated in an uncomfortable stool.

Loaded with custom features, the A-dec 500 dental stool blends all-day comfort with a durable design, and it’s become a staple in the Glendale, WI, practice of Mike Micallef, DDS.

“We have been using the 500 stool, both doctor’s and assistant’s models, since 2021,” Dr. Micallef shared. “They are better in every way than our old hodgepodge of stools. The doctor’s stool I use is very comfortable and easily adjustable. It is easy to maintain good posture while seated on the stool.”

Supports a Healthy Posture

The A-dec stool features a dynamic seating system that includes a suspension frame and flexible, body-conforming materials. The unique seating system encourages clinicians to sit in a manner that maintains a healthy S-shape spine, with hips above the knees and the backrest raised low and forward. Other stools typically feature a standard seat and backrest which allows a damaging, slouching, C-shaped spine. The A-dec stool also provides four points of adjustability, which includes seat tilt and height, as well as backrest tilt and height, with easy-to-follow numbered paddles for incremental customized adjustments. The numbered paddles are especially helpful when the seat is used by multiple clinicians during the day.

“The A-dec stool has multiple point adjusting, so it’s easily adjusted when I jump from operatory to operatory,” shared Dr. Micallef. “I love the way I can get the forward tilt of my hips and spine.”

Body-Conforming Seating

The dynamic seating system also provides three layers of flexible seating that molds to the shape of the body and conforms to every shift and move. First, the flex frame of the base supports large-scale movements. A comfort-flex armature in the middle layer creates a body-conforming surface based on four performance zones, while the cushion foam of the top layer forms a final tier of comfort. The height can be easily adjusted with the one-handed push of a button while a contoured backrest cradles the spine.

“The best features of the A-dec stool are the comfort of the seat, the ease of use, and the backrest,” Dr. Micallef said. “The design of the stool means it cradles the body and gets it into the proper posture. The casters roll smooth and true and the finishes of the stools are high quality.”

The doctor’s stool features optional swing-out armrests and the assistant’s stool features a height-adjustable foot ring and optional foot pedestal. It also features a convenient seat-tilt adjustment, whisper-quiet casters, and a large palette of color options and upholstery choices to match your patient chair.

“The A-dec brand uses dentists for feedback, promotes constant innovation, and builds quality products,” Dr. Micallef added. “It’s no wonder the brand has been around forever! If you buy any A-dec product, you can count on it for years and years of use!”