Efficiency

With such a key piece of equipment it often isn't enough that it can do something if it can't do it efficiently. No one wants to wait around for sluggish functionality - not the dentist who has more patients to see, nor the patient reclined in the chair.

Often the key to efficiency is integration. If you are going to be doing a high volume of X-rays, then getting intraoral X-ray devices and sensors that are integrated into your dental chair is going to save valuable time. Also, more integrated functionality will often mean that there is less clutter left on surfaces, which will improve efficiency and hygiene, and also remove trip hazards from trailing cables of ancillary items.

If there are multiple dentists using the same room, then a USB feature that allows dentists to save their personalised settings, such as in the Anthos L9 Dental Chair, could be invaluable to your practice efficiency.

Another aspect of the dental chair which can be streamlined is the assistant's unit. You need to consider if it is beneficial for the assistant to be able to quickly access any integrated multimedia from their own unit. Furthermore, some models offer integrated suction tube flushing and disinfection, which can also increase overall efficiency.

Some dental chairs, such as the new Dentsply Sirona Axano, offer optimised instrument placement by enabling the dentist and assistant elements, and the tray, to be split and positioned separately, as well as being able to come back together into a single unit, for times when the dentist may be working alone.

Aesthetics

While not as clinically important as the three categories above, aesthetics is not something you can afford to ignore. As the centrepiece, a sleek dental chair can transform the look and feel of the treatment room, even better if the upholstery matches your branding.

So don't overlook looks - if there is more than one option which meets your functionality, efficiency, and comfort needs, then think about the aesthetics of your practice and let that be the deciding factor.