Your patient settles into the chair. Within seconds, you are presenting their treatment options on a crisp display positioned at the perfect angle.
The technology moves seamlessly with your workflow, adapting to each conversation without missing a beat. Sounds good, right?
But in some practices today, the chairside experience tells a completely different story:
The way you present digital technology at chairside has become a defining factor in modern dental practice. Your patients notice when equipment feels outdated or awkward.
Digital technology now has a natural place at chairside. So, the question now is: How do you integrate it in ways that truly serve both your workflow and your patients' experience?
You have new options you wouldn’t even have dreamed of a few years ago. Simple solutions, but incredibly powerful. And this is your introduction to them.
The moments between you greeting the patient and the procedure being completed define your practice's reputation. Every interaction shapes what your patients think about your expertise, professionalism and commitment to their care.
Consider what happens when you need to show a patient their scan results:
These may look like small friction points, but they add up.
Modern patients want to see what you see. They want to understand their diagnosis through clear imagery and feel confident about recommended treatments through detailed explanations.
The numbers tell the story clearly. Research shows that 94% of patients who viewed real-time 3D visualizations were motivated to start treatment immediately.
When your patients can clearly see and understand their oral health status, case acceptance rates increase significantly.
The positioning and accessibility of your digital tools directly impact these crucial conversations.
Equipment that moves with your natural workflow creates space for better patient communication. Technology that positions easily at eye level turns passive patients into engaged participants in their treatment planning.
Your chairside setup either facilitates these interactions or creates barriers to them.
Even if you are the most skilled clinician in the world, you face predictable obstacles when your technology setup works against you rather than with you.
Let us have a brief look at the most common ones. See if you recognize any.
You know the scenario:
If you are a multi-chair practice, you feel this the most. The intraoral scanner that could improve patient communication in every room gets stuck in one operatory because moving it disrupts the schedule.
How do you feel about explaining a treatment plan when your monitor faces the wrong direction? Or trying to maintain eye contact with an anxious patient when you need to constantly check a screen that is behind them?
In traditional setups, you usually have to choose between engaging with your patient and engaging with your technology.
Nobody loves this. Conversations feel choppy and the patients struggle to understand their diagnosis. Not to mention that, when you can’t present treatments with visual clarity, it is more difficult to get your patient to accept the treatment.
Even in the noblest of professions, some workdays can feel endless as your body just feels worn out.
All these physical compromises add up throughout clinic days. Your back feels it. Your efficiency drops.
Patient care becomes harder when your tools obstacles instead of solutions.
Thankfully, there are now inventions that simply remove these obstacles. And just like what happened to travel suitcases, a lot of it comes down to mobility – putting wheels on things that need to move. Interestingly, it took humans around 90 years to realize they should put wheels on their suitcases.
Thankfully, digital dentistry innovation moves faster.
The right chairside setup transforms these daily frustrations into smooth workflows. Instead of working around equipment limitations, you can focus on patient care and clinical work.
Well-designed cart systems (such as TRIOS MOVE Pro from 3Shape) address each pain point directly. They recognize that dentists need technology that adapts to their movement patterns, not the other way around.
With modern digital carts, you can move around easily on quality casters and start up quickly. No more waiting for lengthy boot sequences or finding someone who can help you move equipment.
Battery-powered systems also eliminate the need for the cord management that slows transitions between operatories. You can roll from one room to the next, plug in quickly, and begin scanning within seconds.
Sometimes the simplest solutions – on quality wheels (just like with the suitcases we talked about earlier) – create the biggest workflow improvements.
With adjustable monitor arms, you can position screens exactly where they fit into the conversations.
Eye-level displays keep you facing your patient during case presentations. You may even experience that patients lean in more during treatment discussions when the technology feels accessible (rather than intimidating).
Have height-adjustable work surfaces that adapt to your natural posture. You can position controls within easy reach without stretching or bending. Save your body – you only have one.
Many dentists find that adjustable screen positioning makes a real difference, too. Being able to change the display angle and height depending on whether you prefer scanning seated or standing helps you stay comfortable during longer procedures.
Save your body – you only have one.
Clean cable management and sleek profiles signal to patients that you are a dentist that pays attention to detail. Who doesn’t prefer to get treatment in an environment that feels current and well-maintained.
The visual impact matters a lot, psychologically. A polished setup reinforces confidence in your clinical capabilities before you even begin the examination.
A well-designed cart also includes suitable storage, with designated spots for scanner tips, cables and accessories to keep your workspace organized.
All these improvements compound throughout busy days. You will have less fatigue and more opportunities to have meaningful interactions with your patients.
Who knows? Maybe a cart solution is one of those simple solutions that enhances life and work for you, your colleagues and patients. To find out, here are some things to consider.
How often do you find yourself repositioning equipment during patient consultations? Does your current cart setup require assistance to move between operatories?
If so, how does that affect your schedule flow? Consider the cumulative impact of these small delays across a full patient day.
Can you maintain eye contact with patients when presenting scan results or treatment plans? Do patients seem engaged when you show them digital imagery, or do they appear disconnected from the visual presentation?
Think about whether your technology setup enhances or interrupts the natural flow of clinical conversations.
Are you experiencing back strain or neck tension from reaching awkwardly positioned screens or controls? How much time do you spend each day adjusting equipment rather than focusing on patient care?
Consider whether these physical compromises are impacting your energy levels throughout clinic days.
If you plan to add operatories or bring on associates, will your current equipment setup scale effectively?
Does your technology presentation align with the professional image you want patients to associate with your practice?
These questions help clarify whether your current chairside setup supports your clinical goals or creates obstacles to quality patient care. If several scenarios sound familiar, it may be worth exploring how modern cart solutions could improve your daily workflow and patient interactions.
It turns out, the wheel was a rather good invention. As we have mentioned throughout this story, even a simple suitcase becomes infinitely better with wheels on it.
Why should the most cutting-edge dentistry equipment be any different?