At first it may seem daunting to try and choose between the various brands of self contained dental units portable available. Prices can vary widely with some seemingly too good to be true to even higher priced units not always being clear on what and how well they work. The purpose of this article is to simplify the purchase decision and explain some of the mechanical features and what to look for when comparing different models of portable dental units for your office or portable dentistry. Look for these specific features when evaluating a portable dental delivery system: Vibration – We will start our discussion with one of the most overlooked but important characteristics of evaluating a mobile dental delivery unit. An ideal system will have a powerful compressor and vacuum system, meaning the motors could generate significant vibration. Suction Performance – One of the most difficult design areas for a mobile dental unit to create, is the powerful suction desired for dental procedures. It needs to provide high flow with moderate strength to pick up debris, capture water coolant effectively and pull viscous solutions through smaller tubings like the saliva ejector or surgical tips. Sound Performance – A very common and important question when selecting a portable dental unit for an office is how loud is it? The reason is that many in the dental field have heard how loud inexpensive and poorly designed dental units with air compressors can be. Aesthetics and Working Easily with the System – Since the system you will be using is in an office it is very important that it looks like a professional piece of dental equipment that delivers high quality care. Even though it is a portable dental unit, it shouldn’t look like it. Look for systems that have enclosures made of not only quality materials but are finished in a way that look modern with rounded corners and edges. Electrical Requirements and Testing Lab Approval – A well-designed self-contained dental unit should be able to operate from a standard electrical outlet without overloading the circuit even with both pumps running at the same time.
