Comfort – an integral factor for professional health
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 11th February 2023
A role in dentistry involves long stretches of time spent in the surgery room, in static or awkward positions. The risk of musculoskeletal disorders within the dental field are well-documented, and modern equipment has been developed to reduce strain and support clinicians during long working hours.[i] Despite this, sustaining a musculoskeletal injury is still possible and so clinicians must ensure they take the appropriate steps to reduce this risk, so they can continue to deliver outstanding patient care while prioritising their own health and wellbeing.
Body pain in dentistry
General dentistry in particular is thought to have the highest risk of developing musculoskeletal pain.[ii] Not only can this interfere with daily work and reduce productivity, but it can also cause excessive absence and even early retirement.[iii] Areas that are commonly affected include the neck, shoulders and back,[iv] but the wrists and hands can also be impacted.iv Issues with the hand, fingers and wrists are thought to be common among clinicians, with one study demonstrating that carpal tunnel was prevalent among dental hygienists.[v]The risk factors for poor hand, finger and wrist health include extensive use of vibratory instruments and precise and repetitive movements.[vi] A study[vii] found that during dental drilling, the clinician’s grip may vary from a mild to a tight grasp – these varying grip forces can impact the vibration amplitudes, with subsequent effects on the clinician’s fingers, hands and wrists.
Additionally, researchers have found dental students to be a particular risk, compared to their more experienced counterparts.[viii] Dental students may take longer to complete certain treatments and, as a result, disregard a healthy working posture and develop poor postural habits.[ix] Researchers believe that more experienced clinicians might have learned to adjust their working posture over the years, or have otherwise left the profession.[x] Symptoms may vary according to the area affected, but research shows that common indicators include pain, swelling or reduced strength.[xi] Dental professionals may experience strains, partial ruptures of muscles/tendons and impaired nerve transmission.viii Hand and wrist injuries, according to the literature, have an increased probability of becoming a chronic condition when compared to other complaints.[xii]
Preventing the issue
Clinicians depend upon their manual dexterity to treat patients safely and effectively. The inability to use the hands, fingers and wrists adequately could also lead to job dissatisfaction and potential mental health concerns.[xiii] Several strategies have been proposed to help prevent the development of musculoskeletal disorders, such as regular fitness and stretching.x Improvements to the working environment is another important factor when preventing injury. Adjusting the dentist and patient chairs according to each individual’s posture and body may help to reduce the risk,i while other sources suggest regular rest breaks throughout the working day and educational intervention for the dental team.[xiv]
Clinicians’ tools should support an ergonomic workflow, and fortunately modern dentistry has recognised this need. From the dental chair to dental instruments, leading manufacturers are ensuring that their products provide support and comfort for clinicians, their staff and their patients. Digital dentistry may also have aided in this endeavour. The intraoral scanner (IOS), a common part of the modern-day clinicians’ inventory, is considered much faster compared to conventional impression taking, reducing working time.[xv] The latest models may also provide enhanced comfort than earlier models, with a focus on simplifying user handling. Traditional impression materials can be awkward to use in the small area of the patient’s mouth, and could therefore not only cause discomfort for both the patient and professional, but also potentially increasing the risk of error.[xvi] Alongside performance, quality and capabilities, ease of use should be something clinicians prioritise when seeking to invest in an IOS system.
The Straumann Group offers their customers the 3Shape TRIOS®, the Virtuo Vivo™ and Medit® intraoral scanners, for superior comfort and performance. For clinicians new to the field or with plenty of experience, the Straumann Group range of intraoral scanners can suit many needs and requirements. The 3Shape TRIOS®, for instance, offers an unmatched ease-of-use and a high-quality design. It scans swiftly, reducing chair time for patients and working time for professionals. Impression taking is easy, as the TRIOS® utilises documented, accurate digital colour impressions. With an ergonomic, high quality Straumann Group intraoral scanner, you can optimise your workflow, prioritise your comfort and deliver exceptional patient care.
Protecting your best asset
Dentistry presents a variety of occupational hazards to professionals, including musculoskeletal injuries. For clinicians’ own wellbeing and for the safety of their patients, preventative measures must be taken to reduce the risk of daily discomfort in the short term, and musculoskeletal disorders in the long term.
For more information on intraoral scanners and digital solutions from the Straumann Group, visit: https://www.straumann.com/digital/en/home/equipment/io-scanners.html
[i] Son, K., Lee, J.-M., Son, Y.-T., Kim, J.-W., Jin, M.-U. and Lee, K.-B. (2022). How Does the Use of an Intraoral Scanner Affect Muscle Fatigue? A Preliminary In Vivo Study. Bioengineering, [online] 9(8), p.358. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9404896/[Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[ii] Vijay, S. and Ide, M. (2016). Musculoskeletal neck and back pain in undergraduate dental students at a UK dental school — a cross-sectional study. British Dental Journal, [online] 221(5), pp.241–245. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2016.642 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[iii] clinmedjournals.org. (n.d.). Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional, Pilot Study from a UK University Teaching Hospital. [online] Available at: https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/jmdt/journal-of-musculoskeletal-disorders-and-treatment-jmdt-6-079.php?jid=jmdt [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[iv] Ohlendorf, D., Naser, A., Haas, Y., Haenel, J., Fraeulin, L., Holzgreve, F., Erbe, C., Betz, W., Wanke, E.M., Brueggmann, D., Nienhaus, A. and Groneberg, D.A. (2020). Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists and Dental Students in Germany. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 17(23), p.8740. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8740/htm [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[v] Harris, M.L., Sentner, S.M., Doucette, H.J. and Brillant, M.G.S. (n.d.). Musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygienists in Canada. Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, [online] 54(2), pp.61–67. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7668274/ [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[vi] Maghsoudipour, M., Hosseini, F., Coh, P. and Garib, S. (2021). Evaluation of occupational and non-occupational risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in dentists. Work, [online] 69(1), pp.181–186. Available at: https://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor213467[Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[vii] Banga, H.K., Goel, P., Kumar, R., Kumar, V., Kalra, P., Singh, S., Singh, S., Prakash, C. and Pruncu, C. (2021). Vibration Exposure and Transmissibility on Dentist’s Anatomy: A Study of Micro Motors and Air-Turbines. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 18(8), p.4084. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4084/htm#B23-ijerph-18-04084 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[viii] RISING, D.W., BENNETT, B.C., HURSH, K. and PLESH, O. (2005). Reports of body pain in a dental student population. The Journal of the American Dental Association, [online] 136(1), pp.81–86. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002817714655446 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[ix] Nicholas N, L., Roshanali, P. and Kathryn, F. (2020). Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional, Pilot Study from a UK University Teaching Hospital. Journal of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Treatment, [online] 6(3). Available at: https://www.clinmedjournals.org/articles/jmdt/journal-of-musculoskeletal-disorders-and-treatment-jmdt-6-079.php?jid=jmdt [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[x] Khan, S.A. and Yee Chew, K. (2013b). Effect of working characteristics and taught ergonomics on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders amongst dental students. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, [online] 14(1). Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2474-14-118[Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[xi] Rickert, C., Fels, U., Gosheger, G., Kalisch, T., Liem, D., Klingebiel, S., Schneider, K.N. and Schorn, D. (2021). Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Diseases of the Upper Extremity Among Dental Professionals in Germany. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, [online] Volume 14, pp.3755–3766. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8443801/ [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[xii] Alexopoulos, E.C., Stathi, I.-C. and Charizani, F. (2004). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, [online] 5(1). Available at: https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2474-5-16 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[xiii] Lietz, J., Ulusoy, N. and Nienhaus, A. (2020). Prevention of Musculoskeletal Diseases and Pain among Dental Professionals through Ergonomic Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 17(10), p.3482. Available at: Prevention of Musculoskeletal Diseases and Pain among Dental Professionals through Ergonomic Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[xiv] Farrokhnia, T., Rezai, M. and Vaziri, M.-H. (2018). Investigating the Effect of Educational Intervention on Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists. World Family Medicine Journal/Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 16(2), pp.307–313. doi:10.5742/mewfm.2018.93275.
[xv] Siqueira, R., Galli, M., Chen, Z., Mendonça, G., Meirelles, L., Wang, H.-L. and Chan, H.-L. (2021). Intraoral scanning reduces procedure time and improves patient comfort in fixed prosthodontics and implant dentistry: a systematic review. Clinical Oral Investigations. [online] Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00784-021-04157-3 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2022].
[xvi] Lee, S.J., Kim, S.-W., Lee, J.J. and Cheong, C.W. (2020). Comparison of Intraoral and Extraoral Digital Scanners: Evaluation of Surface Topography and Precision. Dentistry Journal, [online] 8(2), p.52. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/8/2/52/htm [Accessed 14 Nov. 2022].
