Portable dental chair

Summary To many people, dental care is solely for the relief of pain or infection; to others i To is a luxury that cannot be afforded because of monetary or geographic barrierS. Although the handicapped may be unable to travel to receive dental care services, they should be the recipients of definitive care including the prevention of disease. The dentist and his staff are more able to leave the confines of a fixed operatory and travel with portable equipment to urban and rural areas. The goal is to provide more than just emergency treatment, with'the type and quality of care partly dependent on the capabilities of transportable equipment. system is completed, using handtightened knobs and thumbscrews to secure the attachments. The system is easy to clean and maintain, being of simple design and composed of durable, corrosion‐resistant materialS. Repairs require a few common tools and, because of compactness and lightweight, assembled modules or subsystems can be containerized for shipment if replacements are required. The concept of a portable dental clinic is not new but its function as a total care unit has been directly proportional to bulk, as might be seen in the mobile van concept. With modem technology, miniaturized devices are as effective as or are highly improved over larger couterpartS. By using smaller, light‐weight components in a dental treatment unit, the system can be more easily transported, even to the point of being hand carried. The design criteria established for the portable chair system are based on the concept of miniaturization. The components are commercially available and, with a few modifications, all assemblies can be attached to the dental chair. Assembly and disassembly of the One problem encountered with portable dental systems is the number of containers needed for large modular components and chair. The total system is packaged into one durable weatherproof container weighing 150 Ib. Two men can easily carry the container over short distances or it can be transported in a small motorized vehicle, or in a trailer drawn by an animal. Because of its compact size, a dental operatory can be set up in a limited space and design features permit use even when based on soft ground. If electricity and compressed air are not available, they can be supplied by a small generator and a compact quiet air compressor. There is a growing need to develop equipment and methods for portable dental treatment. The portable chair design has removed much of the unnecessary bulk and weight yet has retained the function of comprehensive dental care.