The lift makes dental care easier for patients, but it also makes providing treatment less physically demanding for Dr. Hundal and the other oral health professionals at the practice. A Lift toAccessibility New lift at dental practice helps patients with disabilities access care One of the patients at Dr. Simar Hundal’s practice, TranscenDental in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, asked about the possibility of a ceiling mounted lift to help move patients from wheelchairs into dental chairs. “I have several patients who I treat in their wheelchairs, and I didn’t realize that there was a better option until my patient suggested it,” Dr. Hundal says. “He can still move from his wheelchair by himself, but he said that in a few years, he won’t be able to.” During a renovation of the clinic, an automatic lift, which cost about $10,000, was installed in one of Dr. Hundal’s patient rooms. It uses an attachable sling to lift a person into the dental chair. “One of my favourite patients used to bring his 90-year-old father, who was fully paralyzed, to me for his oral health care,” says Dr. Hundal. “I’d treat him as best I could in his wheelchair, but it was difficult for all of us. And the son would cry every time. It can be very emotional.” Providing accessible dental care for people with disabilities is important to Dr. Hundal. “My father had paralysis, so I’ve seen firsthand the challenges disability can cause in many spheres of life,” she says. “And it’s so crucial that all people have access to health care. As my patients age, I believe that having aids like this will become increasingly important.” The lift makes dental care easier for patients, but it also makes providing treatment less physically demanding for Dr. Hundal and the other oral health professionals at the practice. “The ergonomics of providing treatment to patients is always best when they are in the dental chair,” says Dr. Hundal. Dr. SimarHundal (left) and dental assistant Carolyn Deschenes (above) shown with the ceilingmounted lift at TranscenDental in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 13 Issue 1 | 2024 | News and Events
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