MOBILE DENTAL ASSISTANT CABINETS

What is the Difference Between an Alabama Rolling Cart and a Dental Assistant Cart?

An Alabama Cart was designed as an original method for the dental assistant to work as four handed dentistry came into being. This delivery position allowed the assistant to work while sitting down. The Alabama carts are constructed of laminated particle board with a sliding worktop that reveals a deep storage bay that could hold supplies and amalgamators.

Modern dental assistant carts are constructed of aluminum for a lightweight but structurally solid design and is not affected by moisture. Further they use non-porous solid surface worktops that are more stain resistant and easier to disinfect than laminated worktops. Dental assistant carts eliminate the sliding worktop and provide extra drawers and storage brackets along the sides and back of the cart.

What are the Advantages of a Mobile Dental Assistant Cabinet over a Fixed Rear Wall Dental Cabinet?

Fixed dental cabinetry came into being as larger dual operatory rooms were developed. However, these cabinets usually are bulky, taking up valuable space in the treatment room and are not conducive to positioning flexibility for dental procedures. They usually require static positioning of the dental chair and assistant to use.

Mobile dental cabinets on the other hand provide great positioning flexibility for the assistant and move easily and out of position. This can make single entry treatment rooms more viable as the assistant cabinet can be moved out of the way to allow egress for the staff. Additionally, mobile cabinets allow the treatment room to be used diagonally which makes smaller treatment rooms work by placing the patient chair corner to corner. Mobile cabinets can be fully featured and still include drawer storage, large work tops made of non-porous stone, ambidextrous delivery and accommodate nitrous oxide systems and monitor mounts.

What are Important Features to Consider for Mobile Dental Cabinets?

The structural foundation is key. The mobile cabinet should be constructed of thick-walled aluminum to provide a lifetime of lasting strength yet it should be lightweight for ease of maneuverability. Additionally, the surface should have a powder coat paint finish that is baked on to provide a scratch and chemical resistant surface that is easy to disinfect. Worktops should be non-porous and use modern materials such as engineered quartz for a stone-like appearance. For these reasons, older style laminated wood should be avoided. Dental carts and cabinets should always have very high-quality casters that roll easily, quietly on flooring and withstand years of repetitive movement.

Mobile dental cabinets should provide a stable arm system for holding the dental assistant instruments such air water syringe, high volume evacuator and saliva ejector. The system should be able to be upgraded with additional suction or syringe instruments but also hold curing lights, file caddies, obturation instruments and endodontic irrigation.

The cart or cabinet should provide a protective umbilical to connect it ideally to an In-Wall Dental Junction Box.

The cabinet should be able to be customized with an array of additional rail mounted accessories including storage bins, sharps containers, glove boxes, spray bottles, disinfecting wipes, file caddy storage, monitor mounts and nitrous oxide control units.