New wheelchair recliners expand access to dental care at NorthLakes Community Clinic

NORTHEAST WIS. – NorthLakes Community Clinic is making dental care more accessible for patients with mobility needs thanks to funding from the Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation.

New specialized wheelchair recliners have been added at NorthLakes dental clinics in Ashland, Hayward and Oconto. The equipment allows patients to remain safe in their own wheelchair while it is positioned and reclined for dental treatment, reducing or eliminating the need to transfer into a traditional dental chair.

The Compact Wheelchair Recliners are designed to accommodate both manual and powered wheelchairs.

Their wide entrance can accommodate a range of wheelchair sizes and configurations, including the needs of bariatric patients. The platform reclines the patient while they remain seated in their own wheelchair, helping position them comfortably for dental treatment.

For patients who cannot safely transfer to a dental chair, receiving care directly from a wheelchair can otherwise make positioning difficult for both the patient and dental team. The new equipment allows providers to position patients more comfortably for treatment, helping make appointments safer, more comfortable and more efficient.

“For patients who have difficulty transferring from their wheelchair, something as simple as getting into a dental chair can become a barrier to care,” said Candace Anderson, NorthLakes dental program manager.
“These recliners allow patients to remain in the chair they’re comfortable in while helping our dental teams provide care safely and effectively.”

The three new wheelchair recliners build on NorthLakes’ experience with similar equipment already in use at its Turtle Lake Clinic. Positive feedback from patients and providers there helped demonstrate the value of expanding the equipment to additional communities.

The investment is especially important in northern Wisconsin, where many of the communities NorthLakes serves have higher percentages of residents with mobility disabilities than the statewide average. It also supports NorthLakes’ mission to actively remove barriers to wellness and make quality dental care accessible to more people.

“Access to healthcare means making sure our services work for the people in the communities we serve,” said Ana Tochterman, NorthLakes CEO.

“These new recliners are a practical investment that removes a barrier and helps more people receive the dental care they need, close to home.”

The Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation funded the new equipment, supporting efforts to improve oral health and expand access to dental care throughout Wisconsin.