Self-lubricating TriSteels and plasma treatment improve dental chair design

Dental offices have gone from drab to fab in many markets, as patients look for offices that not only deliver superior oral care, but provide a sleek, comfortable office experience.  In some cities, the standard “dental office” has even morphed into the stylish “dental spa.”  And both dentists, and those who design for them, are taking note ― and contacting TriStar to improve the esthetics of their equipment.

Here’s how TriSteel reinforced bearings and plasma surface treatment have filled a design “cavity” by improving the design of dental chairs:

TriSteel reinforced bearings smooth dental chair movement

Our partner contacted us to replace the sticky, oilite bronze bearings in their dental chairs. They noted that over time the bronze bearings lost lubrication and ran dry, which caused the chairs to resist fluid movement. This posed a problem for dentists (who were unable to achieve proper chair positioning for exams), and patients (who had difficulty entering/exiting the chair). The dry bearings also released a loud, shrill sound as the chair moved into position.

Our engineering experts replaced the dry bronze with self-lubricating TriSteel; a reinforced plastic bearing. TriSteel bearings have given the chairs fluid, consistent movement to enhance positioning. Based on this success, our partner has also specified TriSteels to improve the swivel movement of their exam stools and instrument trays.

While Surface Modification enhances chair painting

Our Surface Modification lab also added to the design by enhancing the custom painting of the chair armrests. In these high-end offices, chairs are painted to match the color palette of the office, yet the constant friction on the armrests caused the paint to peel. After a thorough plasma surface cleaning, we enhanced the adherence of the paint and eliminated the peeling problem.

Do you have a unique equipment challenge to overcome? Need to machine custom parts for a specialty application? Connect with the Plastic Bearing Pros at TriStar, and we’ll fill your design cavity ― no anesthesia required!