What is the best place for placing the dentist’s light?

Dental Light Location

Where is the dental light located in your operatory? For many years dental offices had only two choices when it came time to mount the light; put it on the chair, or put it in the ceiling. As time passes, technology changes, ergonomics advances, and office design trends come and go. Let’s take a look at today’s dental lamp and light positions and the pros and cons of each.

Ceiling Mounted: Mounting a dental light on the ceiling is the most traditional method of bringing extra light into your operatory. However, this position also has the most drawbacks. Placing your dental light in this position often causes interference problems with other services in the office, such as general lighting in the operatory, and heating and air conditioning ducts. The light post hangs from the ceiling low enough for tall patients to bump their heads, and mounting the light requires that a support structure and electrical wiring be placed in the ceiling, which adds to the construction cost of the room.

Chair Mounted: Chair mounted lights are a good compromise. The electrical source for the light is readily available since the chair also has to be plugged in. The light post is short enough to be compact, and yet tall enough to be out of the way. The downside to chair mounted lights is clutter. Too many items attached to a dental chair can give a patient the feeling that they are sitting down inside a piece of equipment, as opposed to sitting on a comfortable chair.

Wall or Cabinet Mounted: This is the best option. By mounting the light to the side of the operatory, it creates the appearance of a more open and inviting room, making it look less like a medical surgery. Electrical sources are usually readily available inside dental cabinetry, and are easy to have placed inside interior walls. Most importantly, the light is still within easy reach of the doctor when he or she needs to use it.

Each potential mounting location for a dental light brings with it challenges. No single solution will work for every practice, and often a mix of styles must be used within a single office. As with all equipment decisions, the key is to carefully look over your plans and choose the best style for your needs.