A dental unit is often referred to as a dental chair. We decided to separate these two concepts. The dental chair is one of the components of the dental unit.
Other components may vary depending on the dental unit, but there are general trends. Almost all dental units are equipped with a suction device and an instrument holder for treating patients.
These tools are:
- Handpieces: turbines, contra-angle handpieces and micromotors for fast tooth milling;
- A blower to dry a specific area in the mouth;
- Scaler
The patient chair is an important part of the installation. All seats are adjustable for seat height, tilt and headrest position.
Other installation elements:
- A light that allows the dentist to see the patient’s mouth without shadows;
- Suction instruments that allow saliva to be sucked in near the sublingual glands;
- A spittoon so that the patient can rinse his mouth during and at the end of the procedure;
- A pedal that allows the dentist to activate the instruments.
All reusable instruments are sterilized after each patient. Many tools are disposable.
How does the dental unit work?
There are several elements to consider:
- Compressed air supply: Dental units are systems that use compressed air. To do this, they are connected to an air compressor or to a centralized compressed air system. The compressor delivers a pressure of 8 to 10 bar at the outlet of the reservoir, which is too much for dental equipment. According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the unit should be connected to equipment with a pressure of 4.5 to 5.5 bar. You can, for example, install a pressure reducer with an optional filter downstream of the compressor. Good isolation of the dental clinic is imperative.
- Water supply: Dental units must also be connected to a water supply for rinsing, cleaning and cooling. Water can cause many problems in dental units such as scale, sand, sludge, rust or chlorine. Biofilms can also quickly form on the inner surfaces of pipes and associated containers. To avoid such problems, the golden rule is to have an easily accessible, clean, and efficient general tap to shut off the water in your clinic. Never rely on old cranes. Ideally, the clinic should have an easily accessible valve that can be turned off every evening. To combat limescale, silophosphate ball cartridges are available in the units, which have a service life of approximately 6 months and they limit deposits.
- Electrical supply: The dental unit components and instruments used during treatment may require electrical power. These could be micromotors or most dental chairs.
- Ergonomics: This refers to the ability to move component parts of the installation, such as a chair or tool holder. Research shows that working with instruments placed on a tripod above the patient’s chest is the best option for the dentist and allows the entire oral cavity to be examined. It should also be noted that the dentist’s or assistant’s chair must be below the patient’s chair. In this position, the doctor’s spine retains its natural curvature, which prevents prolonged pressure on the intervertebral discs.