Positioning the Patient in the Dental Chair

The patient is positioned with the head and heart parallel to the floor and the feet slightly elevated. Positioning the patient in this manner reduces the incidence of syncope that can occur because of increased anxiety (Figure 4).

Patient Position
Figure 4. Positioning of patient in the dental chair

“Hop up into my chair and I’ll move it back so I can see your tooth really well and you’ll be comfortable. You can hold your hands if you feel tensed.”