New ergonomic solutions from A-dec

Poor posture is a major contributor to shortened dental careers; with an astounding 87% of dentists and up to 96% of dental hygienists suffering chronic pain according to international research.1

In the US, one in four dentists experience a work-related injury or continuing disability at some point before retirement.²

In collaboration with dental teams, A-dec has designed two new products to help combat these statistics and encourage proper posture and positioning all day long: A-dec 500 stools and a new lever-style foot control.

New dental stool supports circulation and posture

The new feature-rich A-dec 500 stools provide pressure relief support via a dynamic seat assembly that enables good blood flow to the legs, while setting up the lower lumbar area for a proper, healthy torso posture.

Both the doctor's and assistant's stools feature a dynamic seat designed on a suspension frame, which flexes and conforms to the body's every move. The middle layer of the seat structure is engineered with four individual performance zones for tailored comfort and support.

To further customize the stools, easy-to-access paddles are micro-adjustable for each user and task, allowing practitioners to always remain in an ergonomically healthy posture. Nine patents are pending on the unique A-dec 500 stool design.

"Overall, these new stools can help minimise the discomfort and pain of a very demanding profession. Dentists use their stool all day, every day, so it needs to perform great," said A-dec Product Manager, Leni Vilivili.

Ergonomic lever foot control

In keeping with the commitment to continually deliver ultimate performace and comfort, A-dec is also introducing a new lever foot control, engineered specifically for improved electric motor control. "Current disc foot controls were designed years before electric handpieces," Mr Vilivili said. "Unlike traditional disc foot controls, the new A-dec lever foot control allows precise speed modulation of both electric and pneumatic handpieces".

The lever style allows the operator to switch between cutting wet or dry, without looking away from the patient. Ergonomically, the lever design allows more operator weight transfer from seat to feet, enabling an "athletic stance" and "S" curvature of the spine. Once the desired handpiece speed is reached, the operator can rest the foot flat on the floor and continue to work in a more relaxed state.

"There is no stress on the leg or foot to maintain a constant speed or even vary the speed a little," Mr Vilivili said. "Think of it as cruise control. Once you have determined the desired speed, you can relax your foot. You still have complete functionality, but can drive in a more comfortable state."

References

1. Australian Dental Congress (ADC 15) presentation - "Well-Being & Ergonomics for the Dental Team," Dr Aniko Ball.
2. AmDA® Members Insurance Plans, accessed April 29, 2015. "Odds of disability determined by Great-West Life in 2013 after studying years of disability claims submitted by insured ADA members.