Too Heavy For Dentist's Chair

[ricky]

Any super-overweight people ever faced the problem of being too heavy for the dentist's chair?

I was looking at some dentist chair information ... all the ones I saw had a 300 lb capacity. I'm around 400 pounds (but losing). And, I have a tooth ache. I'm even worried about being put into that astronaut-type position!

Anyone face these problems?

Thanks
Ricky

[matt007]

Don't ever put off you're teeth that's a good way to make the issue worse and require a more expensive treatment than whatever the current issue is. I'm not really sure on the weight allowed by a dentist chair, I think your best bet is to call a dentist and see. They probably have reccommendations about where you can go if you're over the weight limit they can safely cover.

[kingston]

Don't ever put off you're teeth that's a good way to make the issue worse and require a more expensive treatment than whatever the current issue is. I'm not really sure on the weight allowed by a dentist chair, I think your best bet is to call a dentist and see. They probably have reccommendations about where you can go if you're over the weight limit they can safely cover.

Yup I completely agree. Give them a call and see what you can do ahead of time with arrangements. You're on your way to losing the weight, that's what is important so don't feel embarrassed about calling. Just get it done without thinking about it.

[Jasmine130]

I agree with the other responses too. Although I have to admit, when you're really heavy, it can be intimidating to go to the dentist, MD, etc. I even had a really hard time getting my eyes examined when I was very heavy. My belly got in the way of bringing the instruments close enough to my face so I could see through the different lenses to get my prescription right. That was pretty embarrassing.

Obesity keeps a lot of us away from getting all the medical care we need. It's a combination of (1) most medical professionals not providing equipment of sufficient to fit or hold us and (2) some medical professionals are prejudiced against fat people and think all of our medical conditions are the direct result of our obesity and that somehow we deserve what we get in terms of poor health. Ugh.

What I did in my instance was specifically search out medical professionals who welcomed and made provisions for large people. From armless chairs in the waiting rooms, to exam tables able to hold us, to a non-judgmental approach. It took some research online to find them, but I did and it made all the difference in how I took responsibility for my health, including my weight. The accommodations for folks like me allowed me to set aside my usual defensiveness and get real about my health.

So it does matter a lot. I agree, give your DDS a call, you may be very pleasantly surprised to learn that you will be just fine.

I used to say things like: "I am quite a large person and get concerned sometimes that I won't fit comfortably in a chair. Can you tell me about how you work with your (very) overweight patients or can you recommend a colleague?"

Hugs,
Jasmine

[deno1617]

Hi Ricky. I weigh around 38 stone (and have just started dieting properly for the first time in my life) and I have just had to visit the dentist for the first time in around 20 years! There was no problem at all - the dentist did not recline the chair at all and just worked around me - so to speak. The dentist and his staff could not have been nicer when we phoned and explained my weight problem and also my anxiety and panic attack problem. Just go for it and get your toothache sorted. Lots of love. xxx

[Fluffymomma]

Totally agree with everyone above. You must take care of dental issues. Waiting can make it worse.

[bariatric]

Any super-overweight people ever faced the problem of being too heavy for the dentist's chair?

I was looking at some dentist chair information ... all the ones I saw had a 300 lb capacity. I'm around 400 pounds (but losing). And, I have a tooth ache. I'm even worried about being put into that astronaut-type position!

Anyone face these problems?

Thanks
Ricky

FOUND THE SOLUTION!!

There is hope for overweight heavy weight dental patients who have problems getting into the dental chair.....

There is a Bariatric Dental Chair

The bariatric dental chair for large, obese and over weight dental patients that takes 1000lbs !!

Just google "bariatric dental chair"

[HOGGHEAD]

The easiest and fastest way is to simply ask if the are completely handicapped accessible. If so then tell them about your weight. If they can handle a wheelchair then they can handle anything. Tom.

[Rue]

bariatric: Are you suggesting OW patients buy their own chair?

[bariatric]

bariatric: Are you suggesting OW patients buy their own chair?

Ha ha ! NO!

Just see which dentists use a bariatric dental chair - a dental chair for obese heavy patients - then you'll have no problem with being too heavy for a dentist chair

The problem is not that you are too heavy but that the dental chairs that most surgeries use are not for bariatric or obese /overweight patients -

incidentally if you are a wheelchair user (overweight or not) the look for the diaco dental chair for wheelchair patients that is used in clinics world wide - it a dental chair for wheelchair patients that eliminates manual handling and hoisting / lifting of patients - they get to remain in the safety of their owne wheelchair . diaco.co.uk

If you are able bodied but large then look for the bariatric dental chair dentalchair.co.uk

[Jasmine130]

I wasn't necessarily too heavy for a dentist's chair, but too big. Though I really had problems at the optometrist. I wasn't too heavy for that chair either, but my belly stuck out so far that the doc couldn't bring the lensing equipment close enough to my face. I had to force out all air, pull myself up a little, and squeeze the equipment into my belly to go through all the "better, worse, same" options to get my prescription right.

I was really embarrassed and it was physically painful.
The doc was gracious about it though.

[fivehundredpoundpeep]

delete

[bariatric]

Hey 500peeps,

The problem with dental chairs is not when you sit on them but when the dentist reclines a large obese bariatric patient as a standard dental chair wont take that weight... a dentist doesn't want 500lbs landing on his feet ! This is why if you go to a hospital dental clinic they will use a bariatric dental chair bariatricdentalchair.com The bariatric dental chair for large, obese and over weight dental patients or, if you are in wheelchair they will use a diaco dental chair for wheelchair patients diacodental.com The dental chair for wheelchair patients who require special care dentistry - there is an obligation from a safe patient handling point of view to ensure what they supply the right equipment to reduce patient risk and reduce injury compensation claims.

[fivehundredpoundpeep]

delete

[fivehundredpoundpeep]

delete

[fivehundredpoundpeep]

This isnt worth a response, ignore his blog, it is pornographic and I hope the mods remove his post and link.

[SheaGrl]

He's banned now. Thanks to fivehundred for reporting this and thanks to monique for acting so swiftly! You guys rock.

[fivehundredpoundpeep]

Thanks for getting that creep out of here.