Do you know that the dental unit is an essential care station for any dental clinic? It will allow patients to position themselves comfortably while their dentist examines their teeth. It is designed to provide the appropriate care.
The dental unit generally includes a dental chair for patient installation and positioning. In addition, it has an instrument holder with various connected rotating instruments. An ascialytic lamp can light the care area and is essential to see inside the mouth. Moreover, it contains a spittoon and an aspiration system.
Dental units are a significant fixture in any dental clinic because they are the center of a dental procedure. Dental chair unit is affixed with various components and parts to make the patient comfortable. These components make any dental method smoother and more efficient.
It might seem that there are too many components attached to the dental chairs. It can almost make you feel like you are in an aircraft. Probably because the chair is raised above the ground. So what are the different parts of a dental chair, and what functions do they have?
If you would like to learn more about the different parts of a dental unit, then scroll down and keep reading.
Components of a Dental Unit
Dental units are incorrectly called dental chairs. But you need to understand that these are two different units. You need to understand the difference to distinguish between the two. A dental chair is only one component of a dental unit or dental engine.
The lab equipment installation might vary from one dental unit to another, but there are general trends that all manufacturers follow. Meaning all units include aspiration equipment and an instrument holder with the necessary tools for patient care.
These include:
Handpieces include turbines, contra-angles, and micromotors to drill a tooth quickly.
Air gun: for drying a specific area in the mouth.
Scalers: are dental instruments your dentist uses during periodontal care.
Patient’s chair: The dental chair is an integral part of the unit: It is where the consultation takes place. For all chairs, It is possible to adjust the height and inclination of the seat in all the chairs. You can also position the headrest.
Dental chair controls consist of control buttons that can move the dental chair upwards or downwards. Your dentist will adjust it based on what best suits the requirement.
Other Components
Other components of a dental unit are:
Scialytic lamp – it allows the dentist to have a shadow-free view of the inside of your mouth. It is also called a dental light. Your dentist will use the dental or operator light to illuminate inside your mouth or oral cavity while you sit on the dental chair. The light is usually positioned 30-50 inches from your mouth to avoid the light from shining in your eyes and causing discomfort.
The light has dimmer switches such that your dentist can adjust the intensity of the light as required. Protective barriers such as a plastic wrap or aluminum foil are placed on the handles and the switches of the light. The lights are cleaned frequently, and movable parts of the light are lubricated weekly.
Aspirating tools – it allows the saliva to be aspirated near sublingual glands.
Spittoon – Used by patients to rinse out their mouths after receiving care.
Pedal – It allows the dentist to activate the instruments
All the reusable dental tools are sterilized after each patient. Many items your dentist uses are disposable and single-use ones for safety reasons.
How does a dental unit work?
There are several elements to consider:
1 Compressed air supply
Dental units generally use systems that require compressed air. Hence these units are connected to an air compressor or a centralized compressed air network.
A compressor will deliver between 8 and 10 bar of pressure at the tank outlet. This pressure is far too high for dental equipment. Therefore it is necessary to connect this equipment to bring down the pressure between 4.5 and 5.5 bar. The manufacturer generally recommends this range. Your dentist will do this by fixing a pressure regulator with a potential filter at the compressor outlet.
2 Water supply
Dental units must also be connected to a water supply for cleaning, rinsing, and cooling functions. But the water might cause several problems in dental units, such as sand, limescale, sludge, rust, or chlorine.
In addition, bacterial biofilms might also quickly appear on the inner surfaces of pipes. It is essential to have an easily accessible, efficient, and clean general water shut-off device in your dental office. All this is necessary to avoid any complications.
You should avoid old taps. Ideally, your clinic should have a valve that is easily accessible, so anyone can shut off the water every evening. This method will help control limescale in installations. There are several measures available that can limit deposits and hence can last almost six months.
3 Power supply
Some components of a dental unit and the instruments used during treatment often require a power supply. For instance, micro-motors or some dental chairs might need to be connected to a power source to operate.
4 Ergonomics
How the different components in the dental unit move – such as the chair or instrument holder important. Studies suggest some best ways to have an excellent balanced position while you can see all the tooth surfaces. The dentist’s or assistant’s seat should also be lower than the patient’s chair.
What to Consider When Buying a Dental Unit?
In addition to the supply systems required for the proper functioning of the dental unit, you need to consider three more essential elements:
Space requirement:
You need to consider the area available for the installation of a dental unit. As it will determine the number of elements and the configuration of the system. It means that based on the space available, you should choose the dental unit.
Applications:
The dentist or care given can vary and cover a range of odontology specializations such as periodontics, endodontics, implantology, etc. In this unit there are some units specifically designed for orthodontics, for example. Meaning depending on the requirement of the dentist, one can select the applications they want. It is also important to keep this in mind – the configuration of instrument holders.
Mobility:
Many dentists prefer to have a portable dental unit. You would be surprised to know that there are even portable dental care units that fit in a suitcase weighing about ten kilos. For example, they can be equipped with an integrated air compressor to operate compressed air handpieces. These units are ideal for specific missions or mobile dental clinics when one needs to go to remote locations.
How Do You Disinfect a Dental Unit?
You should seriously consider the disinfection of the following elements. As taking these into account is necessary for the safety of the patients:
Process water:
Recent studies have confirmed that different pathogens can colonize dental cooling systems. Water stagnation, especially during the night, might lead to the growth of bacteria. Additionally, insufficient cleaning of centralized decalcification systems favors the development of micro-organisms or algae. These could even be fungi that then form a biofilm.
Today there are several water disinfection techniques available. You can use UV power to eliminate bacteria and prevent biofilm growth. Moreover, you can use automatic cleaning and disinfection systems. These systems can treat water with specially designed products that are permanently distributed in low doses.
The chair:
As you might be aware all patients sit in it during examination and treatment. Hence the unit can be splashed with blood, saliva, mucus, and other bodily fluids during routine dental care.
Therefore, the team should properly disinfect the unit. Otherwise, patients, dentists, and caregivers can be exposed to all kinds of microorganisms. They could also be exposed to microorganisms such as herpes viruses, HIV, staphylococci, streptococci, hepatitis B and C etc.
These microorganisms can be transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids or blood. Even in some cases, they are transmitted through indirect contact with contaminated objects.
Moreover, the dental chair is exposed to parasites such as bed bugs and lice. Hence it is harmful for patients. Therefore it is crucial to disinfect it with appropriate products after each use.
The surfaces:
To limit the growth of bacteria, antibacterial coatings on the metal surfaces of the dental unit can be effective. The team should use disinfectant to clean all surfaces. Some manufacturers offer dental units that automatically adjust the position of the chair. There are also units wherein you can automatically position the instruments. These features avoid possible contact with the hands, thus reducing the risk of contamination.
Summary
The design of a dental unit is such that it is convenient and functional for both the dentist and the patient. While these parts often seem unrelated to each other, you need to understand that they all contribute individual importance to the dental procedure.
Special objects like the operating light, spittoon bowl, and foot controls help your dentist make dental procedures. It also helps make the process more smooth, more efficient, and easier to carry out. Thus providing a much better overall experience for the patient.
Therefore, there are a few important considerations when you choose the best dental unit for your practice. That is where an experienced and well-stocked medical equipment supplier might be the most helpful. We at Engiomed sell only top-of-the-line equipment and machines produced by the leading manufacturers in the world. Our integrity and standards are your guarantees.
You can have a look at the original and organic products available at Engiomed at our shop here.
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