Does Your Operator Stool Fit You Properly?

Often when an operator’s stool is delivered the stool is simply placed in an operatory. Many times the adjustments on the stool are not explained, and the stool is not set up properly for the user.

An ill fitting dentist stool is a prescription for problems. Lower back pain and leg numbness are common ailments in the dental industry, and both of these are preventable simply by adjusting your stool.

Begin by properly setting the stool’s height. Sit up straight in the stool, place your feet flat on the floor about shoulders width apart and look at your thighs. They should be parallel to the floor. If they are not, adjust the height of the stool until they are. Many dental stools don’t go low enough to achieve this in standard form, but most manufacturers offer a shorter stool cylinder as an option. The cylinder can easily be changed after delivery, and is a no cost option on new stools.

Assistant’s stools have a foot ring on the cylinder. The dental assistant’s thighs should be parallel to the floor when they have their feet are on this ring. The ring can be moved up or down to fit the user, and is usually secured in place by a simple set screw.

The backrests of operator’s stools are almost universally adjusted poorly. The backrest is intended to provide support WHILE working on the patient. Many people recline the backrest so that it fits them while leaning back on the chair, when it should actually be adjusted so that it provides support while leaning forward. This is an easy change to make, because a simple pull of a lever is usually all that is needed to spring the backrest forward.

The backrest is spring loaded so that you can recline enough to sit up straight and talk to the patient, write a prescription, or use the computer.

Some stools offer a tiltable base, but this is largely a band-aid solution to the problem of not being having the height adjusted properly. By tilting the base, one can relieve some of the pressure from the thigh. It is best to leave these seat bases level and correctly work with the height to provide proper support.

By spending a few minutes to ensure that your stools fit you properly, you can dramatically reduce the levels of fatigue, back pain, and numbness that you experience.

This will have a positive effect on your health, mood, and productivity.