New Wheelchair Recliners Make Dental Care More Accessible

For some patients, getting into a traditional dental chair can be a significant barrier to receiving care. NorthLakes Community Clinic is working to remove that barrier with new specialized wheelchair recliners at its dental clinics in Ashland, Hayward and Oconto.

Thanks to funding from the Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation, NorthLakes has added three wheelchair recliners that allow patients to remain safely in their own wheelchair during dental treatment. The equipment can accommodate both manual and power wheelchairs and allows the patient to be gently reclined into a position that works for dental care.

More Comfort, Fewer Transfers

For patients who cannot safely or comfortably transfer from their wheelchair to a traditional dental chair, staying in their own wheelchair can make a big difference.

The new recliners help patients remain in the chair they know and trust while giving dental providers the positioning they need to provide care safely and effectively.

“For patients who have difficulty transferring from their wheelchair, something as simple as getting into a dental chair can become a barrier to care,” said Candace Anderson, NorthLakes Dental Program Manager. “These recliners allow patients to remain in the chair they’re comfortable in while helping our dental teams provide care safely and effectively.”

The equipment is designed with a wide entrance to accommodate a variety of wheelchair sizes and configurations, including bariatric wheelchairs.

Expanding Access Across NorthLakes

The new wheelchair recliners build on NorthLakes’ experience with similar equipment already in use at the Turtle Lake Clinic. Feedback from patients and providers helped demonstrate the value of making this equipment available at more dental locations.

For NorthLakes, investments like this are an important part of making healthcare more accessible to the communities it serves.

We’re grateful to the Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation for supporting this effort to improve access to dental care and oral health throughout Wisconsin.