Love & Orthodontics
  • Love & Orthodontics
  • Online Courses
  • Enroll
  • Love & Ortho Blog
  • Love & Orthodontics
  • Online Courses
  • Enroll
  • Love & Ortho Blog

Houston... we have a problem!!!

1/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Both the dental patient and the dentist have a problem! 

It’s tough to have the patient’s head positioned comfortably, AND ideally for the dentist.  

This challenge makes the dentist’s job difficult because without the best view of the mouth, and without the best light on the mouth, the dentist is working in the dark.

And, it is difficult for the patient to be tolerant and still and be engaged in something interesting during the otherwise boring dental treatment.  If the patient is not comfortable, to be tolerant and still is an impossible task for him/her.  

It helps if the patient can read a book, pad, or use a game or cell phone during the otherwise boring time in treatment.

Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. started as a New York City hardware store in 1848, and in 1881 began distributing its own catalog (The 1912 catalog was 1,112 pages.)  The store was the first to offer the newest and greatest - a pop-up toaster (1930), a portable radio (1930), an electric toothbrush (1955), and a telephone answering machine (1968).  Although these amazing products were very practical, Hammacher Schlemmer also sold whimsical and luxury items. Regular customers have included the British royal family, the King and Queen of Spain and Lord Rothschild, many U.S. Presidents and First Ladies decorating the White House, and Princess Grace of Monaco.  NYC mayor Rudolph Giuliani renamed one block of 57th Street in NYC as Hammacher Schlemmer Way.  The catalog today still has fascinating, unusual and fun items.

About 15 years ago, I was browsing through the current Hammacher Schlemmer catalog and saw this ad: 
Picture
I thought, “Wow!  I know what those are for! - those are for dental patients in the dental chair!”  And sure enough - FINALLY - a solution that works fantastically.  At the time I called them ‘gameboy glasses’, because then, gameboys were what every child wanted to play with while in the dental chair!  

These glasses are fantastic - today! For the patient, they can comfortably hold their book, pad, phone, with their arms resting on their torso, and see it well.  The operator’s hands and instruments working on the patient’s mouth are not in the patient’s way at all.  

For the operator, the dental light beam is able to shine on the oral treatment area perfectly without the patient blocking the light or the view at all.  AND, perhaps the biggest bonus is that in order for the patient to have their head at the angle where the glasses work best, they tend to tip the chin up a bit.  

In other words, the patient naturally tips his head up, which makes the view perfect!  EXACTLY where we dentists want the patient’s head to be.  

You can order them from Amazon (see photos on left ).  I recommend having a pair at each chair.  Once they have used the glasses, the patients will ask for them each visit.  And you will be happy with the result.

For my child patients, whether they are reading a book, a pad, a phone, or watching a movie on our computer monitor, they are engaged, comfortable and off on “planet-la-la land.”  ​

Talk about a win-win solution for you... and for your patients!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Dr Chris Baker

    America's most-trusted teacher of orthodontic continuing education, Dr. Chris Baker has practiced and taught for more than 30 years, and is a current or former faculty member of three U.S. dental schools.  She is a pediatric dentist, author, blogger, dental practice consultant, and mentor.  Dr. Chris is also Past President and Senior Instructor of the American Orthodontic Society.  She is based in Texas, USA, but lectures around the world.

    Categories

    All
    Abu Dhabi To Texas
    Dental Practice Freedom
    Life & Home
    L & O TV
    Orthodontics
    Pediatric Dentistry
    REAL Brief

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

    RSS Feed

    Text and images
    © 2022 Dr Chris Baker