Are you starting a dental care business and you are considering the type of neck pillows to buy for your dental chair? If YES, here are 6 best neck pillows to choose from.
For decades, the primary focus of many dental chair manufacturers has been on patient chair comfort: luxuriously cushy with wide, roomy armrests.
However, when compared with how many hours a year the average patient spends reclined in a dental chair (up to several hours), with the time dentists spend hovering over the oral cavity (more than 2,000 hours), even the dentist is at risk of developing discomfort and/or pain.
As the problem of work-related pain and injuries among dentists has come to the forefront in the profession, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the ergonomic features of patient chairs.
When considering patient chair ergonomics, desirable features should facilitate neutral posture of the spine, shoulder, elbow, and wrist; and excessive reaching should be limited.
According to reports, dental operators are having difficulty gaining close proximity to the oral cavity while maintaining a neutral posture.
If the patient’s chair does not allow close operator positioning, the dentist is forced to either reach excessively forward with the entire arm or to bend the trunk forward. Both place the operator at risk for injury.
Have it in mind that a good dental chair and an ergonomic neck pillow allows for more legroom and easier/enhanced accessibility to the patient.
Double-articulating and magnetic neck pillows will allow greater flexibility in patient positioning. Large knobs behind neck pillows can hit your knees or the edge of your operator stool and thus inhibit close positioning. Double-articulating neck pillows allow for both rotation and tilt of the patient’s head.
Also note that the double articulation feature can greatly aid in viewing the upper arch by allowing the neck pillow to be angled up into the patient’s occiput so that the nose and chin are approximately levels. For the lower arch, this feature allows the neck pillow to be angled forward and down so that the chin is lower than the nose level.
Dentists and hygienists often have to strain themselves in order to work on a patient who doesn’t fit properly into a standard dental chair. This can cause long term negative effects for their back, neck, muscles, and joints.
However, by utilizing dental neck pillows for their patients, dentists and hygienists are able to position patients in a way that doesn’t cause strain on their own bodies while they’re working.
Neck pillows will actually increase the longevity of dental careers because the ergonomic posture will allow dentists and hygienists to work easier and for longer.
There are many different options available in the marketplace for dental neck pillows. And with so many options available, it could be difficult to determine which ones are best for your patients and dental office.
Best Neck Pillow for Dental Care
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Stay N Place Neck Pillow
This neck supports the neck, helps keep the head tilted back, and can be used as a shoulder roll. Also note that it has a strap that attaches behind the dental chair to keep the pillow in place, even when the patient sits forward. The vinyl pillow cover is soft to the touch, resists fluids, and is easily cleaned using a surface disinfectant.
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Crescent Original Headrest
Have it in mind that this headrest allows dental chairs with flat headrests to simulate a double articulating headrest. This supports the necks of adult patients and moves them into a position that’s ergonomic for the dentists and hygienists working on them.
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Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam
The Everlasting Comfort is a firm, thick pillow that offers the best balance of support, comfort, and ease of use. It also has a lifetime replacement guarantee. The thick memory foam of the Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Back Cushion is sturdy yet cushiony.
The two adjustable, extendable straps make the pillow easy to position so that it hits the right spot for your lower and middle back on most chairs. A cover that you can easily remove for washing and a lifetime replacement guarantee that offers peace of mind.
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Lebogner Car Headrest Pillow
The cylinder-shaped configuration is designed to provide support to the deepest contour of the neck, to provide the ultimate support. It can even fit in a car!
Note that it has foam coupled with a smooth suede fabric, which is completely breathable. Even though the upholstery is easily removable with its convenient zipper, washing this pillow won’t be a problem which most people will absolutely love.
However, a good approach towards suede fabric would be to simply wipe it clean, just spritz and spray that fancy detergent and you’re good to go.
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Crescent Low Profile Headrest
This headrest from Crescent also pairs well with the chairs using double articulating headrests. It comfortably positions smaller adults and children in almost any chair, while allowing dentists and hygienists to maintain proper visualization and posture.
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LoveHome Memory Foam
This neck pillow is nearly identical to the Everlasting Comfort. From the quality of their mesh fabric covers to their overall dimensions, these two cushions could be twins (give or take half an inch in width or length).
The main difference between them is that the LoveHome has shorter straps at its shortest setting, which makes it stay in place better on small chairs. (The width of chair backrests can vary by several inches; dental chairs might be 14 inches wide, while “executive”-type office chairs are wider, measuring 17 to 19 inches.)
The LoveHome pillow’s cover is difficult to remove—making it less likely you will wash the cover regularly—and you can get a replacement only within 60 days of purchase.
Ergonomic features found in a well-designed patient chairs and dental neck pillows are of utmost importance to the comfort and health of the dentist and the dental team.
When a dentist buys equipment that fails to have a proper ergonomic design, they only have 2 choices: to live with it and suffer the associated musculoskeletal discomfort and/or injuries; or, to buy new equipment and try to sell the old. Neither is an attractive option.
However, it is imperative to do the research and invest in an equipment that will benefit your health and extend your career right from the start.