Similar to a barber seat, a dental chair offers features not available with the barber’s choice.  A barber seat is height adjustable, with a foot powered jack.  It will swivel from side to side and will lean backwards.  A dental chair is similar, but has several different important features.  One of those features is that this piece of equipment has a deeper and steeper lean, to guarantee better access to the patient’s mouth. 

The barber seat uses a hydraulic system, meaning that when force is applied to the lever it is transferred to the adjacent object with the aid of hydraulic fluid.  When the jack is pressed down upon, the seat raises in height.  If the barber wants the seat lowered, they must apply constant pressure to the lever to release the pressure.  This is similar to the pneumatic system under which the dental chair operates.  This piece of equipment uses compressed air to change the height, recline the back, and make it swivel.  This system is much more useful to a dentist than the barber stool, as the doctor requires the ability to change the angles and maneuver about the patient with ease.

Most of the time, a dental chair suppliers will offer a few standard special features to ensure maximum use.  It will lay back completely horizontal in order to grant easier access to the patient’s mouth.  It is designed so that the doctor can sit on either side of the patient.  Oftentimes, it will come with an attachable sink and tap to clean the mouth before, during, and after procedures.  Some are made with a double sink.  A double sink allows the tools and utensils to be cleaned during use. 

Though the dental equipment functionality resembles a barber chair when looking at them, the differences are obvious to the professionals using them.  The barber’s equipment is made only for height adjustment, as barbers do not need their clients to sit while they work.  Nor do they need to reach anywhere that is hard to get to while the client is sitting straight up.  The doctor's seat has an adjustable headrest and a footrest to offer extra comfort to the patient.  This dentistry equipment is capable of being laid out flat to allow the oral care professional to work in the patient’s mouth and see every angle necessary.  It is also an ambidextrous piece, meaning it allows the doctor to work on either side of the patient with ease.  Many barber seats do not have a headrest, and the footrest is typically just a step that the client can put their feet on while in the seated position. 

A dental chair is a piece of standard dental supplies.  It comes with many features to offer extra ease in the operations and procedures necessary during the appointment.  Some come with attachable equipment that many hygienists and doctors need to perform a proper examination and any subsequent procedures.  They use a pneumatic system for the simple reason that with a smooth, non-jerking motion, it will change in height and angle.  The doctor can then be more comfortable while performing the various procedures.