About Dental Delivery Systems
What are dental delivery systems?
Dental delivery systems are designed to provide easy access to all of your dental instruments; hand-pieces, air/water syringes, vacuum, and more. A dental delivery system is a key part of designing a great dental office. Most delivery systems come with automatic activation for at least three of the handpieces, a self-contained waterline with asepsis tubing and purge system, airflow control, and a control panel with wet and dry foot control. There are a variety of dental delivery systems to choose from: rear-delivery systems, side-delivery systems, over the patient delivery systems, and mobile delivery systems. Depending on the type of dentistry you’re most comfortable with, we have a delivery system that will suit your needs.
Rear Delivery Systems
Rear Delivery Systems place all the dental instruments behind the patient. As a result, this setup frees up space for larger pieces of equipment in the dental room. Rear delivery is the least expensive way to connect to utilities, it also keeps equipment out of the patient’s view which minimizes the patient’s anxiety once dental procedures start. Typically, rear delivery systems work best when four-handed dentistry is practiced. This involves having a dental assistant who retrieves handpieces, transfers instruments, and changes burs, which will minimize the need to extensively reach, twist, or lean over to retrieve instruments from behind the patient’s head.
Pros
- Good for right handed and left handed dentists
- Construction costs for vacuum and air are typically less expensive because they are plumbed to only one location – at the rear cabinet
- Most cost-effective equipment solution
- Less intimidating for the patient, as delivery system and handpieces are out of their view
- Instruments are out of the path of aerosol contamination from blood and saliva
Cons
- Ergonomic challenges can lead to increased stress on the torsos of office staff during procedures due to twisting and turning to transfer instruments
- Foot control can be an obstruction for dental stool movement if not routed under the floor
- Increased sensitivity to accuracy of chair placement, as the doctor requires more room behind the patient’s head to work
Side Delivery Systems
Side Delivery Systems are located beside the patient and can be stowed away under the cabinet. Because of this, these delivery systems offer a very aesthetic look to the operatory room. Unfortunately, the side delivery system is not four-handed dentistry friendly, as it requires the dentist to pick up the handpiece without assistance; this means the dentist must look away from the area of treatment, grab the instrument, and then refocus. Since the dental assistant can’t reach the instruments, productivity can be compromised with this style of delivery system.
Pros
- Used in shorter treatment rooms as it requires no extra space at toe of chair.
- Ergonomically sound option for doctors who sit close to the 12 o’clock position on oral cavity
- Aesthetically it is a very clean look and the delivery system can stow away easily under the cabinet
Cons
- Does not provide a left and right option
- Vertical high movement limitations due to mounting location on side cabinet
- Foot control can be an obstruction for dental stool and technology movement, if not routed under the floor
- Continental delivery unit not available in this option
Over the Patient Delivery Systems
Over the patient delivery systems allow the dentist to move without obstruction around the patient’s head from the 8 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position. The system is placed over the chest of the patient, making handpieces and other instruments very easy to reach for both the dentist and the dental assistant. Being in plain view, and within proximity of the patient, this type of delivery system can be easily bumped making it highly undesirable for pediatric offices.
Pros
- Right and left capable
- Ergonomically friendly
- Has options for continental or traditional delivery unit
- Most common delivery method used in dental schools – it is likely you are already familiar with the over-the-patient layout
- Provides expanded vertical range, which allows for standup dentistry
Cons
- Can be intimidating for patients since the instruments are placed directly in front of patients line of sight
- Can add length to the treatment room in order to allow movement of the delivery arm around toe of chair
