Abstract: A portable, self-contained dental operatory is disclosed. The operatory includes all of the equipment necessary for the ordinary practice of dentistry contained in a cabinet that serves both as a compact carrying case and as a chairside dental workbench. The cabinet includes foldable front and top panels that fold outwardly and downwardly to form a dental workbench positioned in front of a tool support panel that supports dental handpieces and other equipment. The cabinet further contains an electric air compressor that supplies pressurized air to drive the handpieces and to provide a source of pressurized water from a water reservoir. The operatory further includes a vacuum bottle that may be selectively evacuated by the air compressor as required to operate an oral saliva evacuator. The air compressor includes an electric motor that can be tapped to drive grinding and polishing equipment.