A dentist today cannot conceive of working without a dental chair.However, like everything else, it has not been something that has always existed, but over time it has evolved and improved from those first wooden chairs used by the so-called barbers, until it became the dental chair that we know today.For this reason, in this article we review the history and evolution of this essential tool for dentists, from who invented the first dental chair to its subsequent evolution to the present day.From Oshawa Center Dental Office we are informed that the American engineer Josiah Flagg was the creator of the first dental chair, which can be considered such because the typical wooden chair that was used until then - in his case a Windsor writing chair - included two important modifications:A wide armrest on the right, where you can leave part of the instruments.A padded headrest so that the patient had a place to rest their head.This first dental chair therefore arises in the USA, although the exact date is not known.It is assumed between 1790 and 1812 and the most common is that it is located in the year 1795.If we talk about the first reclining dental chair, in this case the achievement goes to a dentist from London, James Snell, who, as explained in Kalma, was the one who invented and patented it back in 1832. That is to say, almost 40 years after the first chair as such.His chair was not only reclining, but also incorporated a mirror to illuminate, since at that time what was done was to place dental chairs near the windows, to have light.Yes, this was another milestone in the evolution of dental chairs.It happened in 1847 and was devised by Jones White & Co, who manages to introduce improvements (such as the headrest being portable) so that those dentists who are required to make consultations in different places can transport it better.And while this improvement was intended for dentists, about three years later, in 1850, this time it is up to patients: Dr. John Naughton invents a dental chair that folds down, since it has a system to support the feet.Something without which today we cannot conceive our visit to the dentist.In addition, since the patient is lying down more, the dentist can access his mouth more comfortably and easily.A last modification in this time of evolution towards more "ergonomic" dental chairs is that of 1868, when James Beall Morrison created a chair that allows a slight lateral inclination, which even more helps the dentist to carry out his work.And this, obviously, also has an impact on an improvement for the patient himself, receiving a better quality treatment.We come to the year 1871, when manufactured by the SS White Co company, a dentist's chair made entirely of metal appears, definitively leaving behind the wood used until then.But the most revolutionary thing was the crank that it incorporated and allowed to modify the height of the chair to the one that was most convenient to treat the patient.The first hydraulic chair was designed by Basil Manly Wilkerson in 1877, and thanks to this system, both the patient and the dentist benefited.One because his back was better positioned during the intervention and the other because once again, it allowed him to reach the patient's mouth more easily.What improves your professional practice.Also, the cranks that came into use in 1871 are now being replaced by levers, which also make the job easier.In 1890 the levers will in turn be replaced by pedals.In fact, we are already at the end of the 19th century, which is when, thanks to industrialization, armchairs much more similar to those of today begin to be manufactured.In the 1920s, armchairs were used that incorporated tapes whose objective was to pass them through the patient's chest, abdomen and legs, to prevent them from moving and not harm them during treatments.They don't conjure up a very nice picture of what was supposed to happen in those chairs.Another crucial change: the foot pedal is gone and replaced by the electric motor, which is of course a fantastic thing for the dentist, who no longer has to use force to get the chair up and down.We are already in the year 1940, when Ritter Co. designs the dental chair with pressurized air, in addition to incorporating elements that are familiar to all of us, such as the drill or the device for the patient's saliva, which could thus expel it easily.Finally, we come to the 70s, when dental chairs already have a design as we know it today.Since then, more improvements have been included little by little, of course.But they are already adjustments that do not imply changes as drastic as those seen up to that moment.Login to leave a commentThis website uses its own and third-party cookies to improve the user experience, perform user navigation analysis, show advertising related to your preferences and improve our services.If you continue browsing, we consider that you reject the use of cookies, and navigation errors or display problems of certain contents may occur.For more information, consult our cookies policy in advance.