PATIENT AND

OPERATOR POSITION
Benefits of patient and operator position:

Patient Operator
Less muscular strain. Less muscular strain.

Less fatigue. Less fatigue.

More cooperative More efficient.

during treatment.
Less chances of getting
musculoskeletal
disorders.
The following points should be kept in
mind in relation to the dental chair :

The headrest of the chair

It should provide total should be attached for
It should provide comfort
body support during supporting the patients
to the patient.
working. chin and reducing strain
on chin muscles.

It should be placed at a
It should provide Foot switches are
convenient location with
maximum working area to preferred to improve
adjustable control
the operator. infection control.
switches.
Chair position
Accurate operating positions are essential while doing restorative work to:
1.Increase efficiency .
2.Decrease physical strain.

The position of the patient depends upon the

procedure to be performed.

Most of the dental procedures are performed with the patient in the supine
position.
 Dental stool

It should possess several features:

1.It should have casters for mobility and ease
of movement.
The operating 2.Be well balanced.
stool:
3.It should have an adjustable backrest to
provide full support to the dentist.
.

.The dentist should sit on the stool in such a

way that :
1. The spiral column is straight or slightly
bent
2.Thighs are parallel to the floor
3.Lower legs are perpendicular to the floor
4. The level of teeth being treated should be
placed at the of operators elbow.
For better understanding , sitting positions of
the operator are related to a clocK.

In this clock concept an imaginary circle is

drawn over the dental chair keeping the
patient’s head at the center of the circle .
Accordingly the operators position for the right
handed operator can be 7 o’clock,9 o’clock 11
o’clock and 12 o’clock and for left handed
operator ,it can be 5 o’clock 3 o’clock and 1
o’clock.
Right position (7 o’clock):

1- It helps in examination of patient

2- working areas include :

A-mandibular anterior
B-mandibular posterior
C-maxillary anterior teeth

3- To increase ease and visibility, the patients

head may be turned toward the operator.
 Right position (9’oclock)
1.In this position the dentist sits exactly right to the patient.
working areas include:
1.facial surfaces of maxillary right posterior teeth.
2.facial surfaces of mandibular right posterior teeth.
3.occlusal surfaces of mandibular right posterior teeth
Right rear (11 o’clock):

1- in this position the dentist sits behind and

slightly to the right of the patient and the left
arm is positioned around the patients head .

2- This is the preferred position for most

dental procedures .

3-Most areas of the mouth are accessible

from this position either using direct or
indirect vision
working areas include :
A-palatal and incisal surfaces of maxillary teeth
B-mandibular teeth(direct vision)
Direct rear position (12 o’clock):

1-Dentist sits directly behind the patients

head during procedure.

2-working areas are lingual surfaces of

mandibular teeth.

3- this position has a limited application

Right handed operator -3- Left handed operator -3-
preferred position preferred position
-right front or 7 o’clock -Left front or 5 o’clock
-right or 9 o’clock -left or 3 o’clock
-right rear or 11 o’clock - Left rear or 1 o’clock
 considerations
for dentists while
working on a
patient
1.While doing work in the maxillary arch,
the maxillary occlusal surfaces should be
oriented perpendicular to the floor.

2.In the mandibular arch, the mandibular

occlusal surface should be oriented 45
degree to the floor.

3. Patients head can be rotated backward or

forward or from side to side for operators
ease and visibility while doing work

4.Dentist should not sacrifice good

operating posture as it will decrease
visibility, accessibility and efficiency.
5.The dentist should always maintain distance
from the patient such as distance while
reading a book

6.Maintain proper working distance during

dental procedure, this will lead to increase
cooperation and confidence among patients.

7.Another important point is minimizing body

contact with patient.

8.Dentist should not rest forearms on the

patients shoulders and hands on the face of
the patient.
9.dentist should not use patients chest as an
.
instrument trolley .
Zones of Working Area
THE WORKING AREA IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR ZONES:

1.OPERATORS ZONE(LIES BETWEEN 7 TO 12

O'CLOCK)
2. ASSISTANTS ZONE(LIES BETWEEN 2 TO 4
O'CLOCK)
3. STATIC ZONE(LIES BETWEEN 12 TO 2 O'CLOCK)
4. TRANSFER ZONE(LIES BETWEEN 4 TO 7 O'CLOCK)
 THE EFFICIENT EXCHANGE OF
INSTRUMENTS BETWEEN THE
OPERATOR AND THE DENTAL
ASSISTANT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO
HAVE AN EFFICIENT AND STRESS
FREE DENTAL PRAC TICE.
Instrument THE TRANSFER OF INSTRUMENT
Exchange BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND
ASSISTANT SHOULD OCCUR IN THE
Zone EXCHANGE ZONE WHICH IS BELOW
THE PATIENTS CHIN AND SEVERAL
INCHES ABOVE THE PATIENTS
CHEST.
ALL INSTRUMENTS AND
MATERIALS ARE LOCATED IN THE
ASSISTANTS ZONE.
Thank you