The ‘Perfect’ Dental Chair for Comfort & Access
Artfully engineered down to the very last detail, the A-dec 511 dental chair combines functionality, esthetics, and comfort to meet the needs of both patients and clinicians
Does a dental chair exist that can meet all practice and patient needs? Is there a single chair that looks good, that patients find comfortable for long procedures, that can be easily cleaned and operated, and that provides easy access to the patient? Kara L. Heimer, DDS, was looking for just such a chair at the beginning of the pandemic. “We wanted to have a hygienic chair that not only looked clean and new but also worked seamlessly with our dental units and allowed us to operate them with the push of a button away from the chair,” she explained.
She found that perfect dental chair—the A-dec 511—when she visited the manufacturer in Oregon. “We toured the A-dec facility where they make the chairs from start to finish,” said Dr. Heimer. “It was amazing to see. The chairs are engineered down to each last detail.”
The Details
A-dec pays attention to the small details and the big picture. Patient comfort is addressed by the 511’s supportive dynamic back, dual-articulating gliding headrest, secure arm rests, toeboard tilt, and gentle start/stop. Each element ensures patients are instantly comfortable in the chair.
“The chair opened up space for us in our operatories, allowing easier patient and operator access.”
—Kara L. Heimer, DDS
Bill Wagnild, DDS, who has a practice in Minnetonka, MN, has found the chair particularly beneficial for his older patients. “The articulating headrest is good for our senior patients with stiff necks,” he explained. “I’ve even had patients say they want to take the chair home with them.”
Many of the same elements that make for a comfortable patient experience—dual-articulating gliding headrest and ultrathin backrest—also enhance clinician access. “The chair opened up space for us in our operatories, allowing easier patient and operator access,” said Dr. Heimer, who has a practice in Austin, MN. “The chair can go very low to the floor if needed and can accommodate all shapes and sizes of patients.”
In addition, the chair’s functionality allows practices to enhance infection prevention. “We eliminated touch points and increased our level of infection control,” said Dr. Heimer. “The chair upholstery is high quality and has held up great. They’re easy to clean and show our patients that they have a clean, safe place to relax while their dental work is done.”
A Few Favorite Things
Both Dr. Heimer and Dr. Wagnild declared patient comfort as the feature they like best about the A-dec 511 dental chairs. Dr. Wagnild also included the articulating headrest and chair reliability on his list.
“I like the clean sleek look of the chair the most,” said Dr. Heimer. “We had bulky chairs in the past, thinking they would increase patient comfort. In reality, they were just cumbersome and hard to keep clean with all of their seams.”
Both doctors also agreed on their experience with A-dec. “The company has unrivaled customer service,” said Dr. Wagnild.
“A-dec is a wonderful company,” said Dr. Heimer. “I would recommend everyone to visit their facility so they can gain an appreciation for how well their products are made, right here in the USA. They know dental and they stand behind their products.”
