A Jacksonville dental office is modifying its treatment center to better serve patients in wheelchairs.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars went into specifically accommodating physically and mentally challenged patients.
It's about the experience and ensuring everyone is safe – including the patient and staff.
Dr. Glenn Forhan, of Argyle Dental Professionals, said the new dental treatment room is allowing him to provide better care to patients who use wheelchairs.
A local dentist office is modifying its treatment center to better serve wheelchair bound patients. Details at 5:37 on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/Gy3I7r0ZQL
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) June 28, 2017
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"A lot of patients with mechanical wheelchairs can't lean back at all. And so, an upper arch treatment, teeth that need to be treated on the upper, the patient has to be leaning back or the dentist has to be standing on their head," Forhan said.
The $200,000 investment means patients can get the treatment they need from their wheelchair.
"You don't have to be manhandled to get in the chair," patient Todd Dickerson said.
Dickerson, a Navy veteran, was in an accident that left him paralyzed on one side.
He's been coming to Argyle Dental Professionals for three decades and appreciates the lift.
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With this equipment, patients do not need to transfer to a dental chair for dental treatment. Instead, they can lock their chairs in and lean back.
The machine dramatically reduces the risk of injury when assisting patients in wheelchairs.
"Allows us to get the patient in the proper position, so that we can do good treatment and not compromise the treatment by being in odd positions," Forhan said.
Cox Media Group
