Ease the strain in the workplace
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 15th April 2023
In any career, there are many stresses and strains repeatedly put on the body, which can lead to problems in the long-term. In dental practices this is a particular concern, with dental practitioners often feeling they need to adopt an improper working posture to complete their work effectively. The stresses that this puts on the body can lead to a range of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or repetitive motion injuries (RMI). Amongst dentists, development of these conditions contributes to around 29.5% of early retirement.[i] The significance of this should not be understated, as this is a serious concern which should be addressed.
Musculoskeletal disorders and their causes
Musculoskeletal disorders can affect many different areas of the body. The most common body parts to be impacted among dentists are: wrists (69.5%), neck (68.5%), shoulders (60%), and upper and lower back (56.8%).i These injuries could be caused by repetitive motions experienced when scaling and polishing, vibrations from the use of vibrating hand tools, contact stresses from repeatedly touching hard or sharp objects which can damage nerve function, or over exertion putting strain on the muscles.i
Additional strains can be felt due to prolonged incorrect posture. Because dentists must remain relatively still while working, they are likely to feel the associated tension. Remaining still for long periods of time is unnatural for the human body, which is designed for movement. Incorrect posture, in particular, can decrease the blood flow due to increased pressures put on specific body parts. This bad posture can be exacerbated by holding small instruments for extended amounts of time, keeping the back bent at an angle, and keeping the neck, back and shoulders still for long periods of time.i
Improvements for the whole team
One recommendation is to carry out “four handed dentistry” by working closely with your dental nurse to reduce the number of awkward positions either of you may otherwise take while caring for patients effectively.[ii] It is also important to ensure that all members of the team understand how they might minimise any stresses on their body, and make sure that they have the appropriate equipment to ensure an ergonomic experience. This team-based approach is a simple implementation which could help manage the discomfort throughout the entire team, helping to save each dental professional’s body significant amounts of stress and strain over the course of the day.ii
Dental professionals are likely to adopt uncomfortable positions to gain the best view of and access to the patient’s teeth. Patient comfort is often a primary concern, but this does not mean that the dental team’s comfort should be ignored. Where possible, design your set up to optimise comfort for all, ensuring that you do not need to over-stretch to access tricky areas within the oral cavity. By doing this you reduce the amount of time that you spend leaning at an angle, and therefore help to reduce back, neck and shoulder pain.ii
Adjustments in practice
It is recommended that dentists should take regular short breaks to relax the body, taking time to release the strain and move out of fixed positions. Positions should be changed frequently so that one muscle group is not feeling the strain of the entire workload. A simple break idea could involve taking time to stretch by the chairside, relaxing and stretching the back, neck, shoulders, hand and wrist muscles.ii
Selection of instruments is another key change which could drastically reduce strain on the body. Choose and maintain instruments and equipment so that they do not require excessive force to perform a task. This includes using lightweight and durable handheld equipment, and those which are automatic, rather than manual, to minimise the exertion felt by the clinician.ii
Utilising high-quality equipment is an excellent way to ease the strain on yourself and on your patients. The CS 1500 intraoral camera from Carestream Dental produces precise images to facilitate accurate diagnosis as well as effective communication with your patients. The CS 1500 features intuitive autofocus and lighting systems to remove the need for manual adjustments. The CS 1500 provides optimal view of the patient’s teeth, while prioritising the clinician’s comfort. By incorporating user-friendly equipment which offers precision, your diagnosis accuracy, comfort, and patient satisfaction will all improve.
Making changes like these in your practice can help to minimise the physical strain on your body. Among dentists, this is an extremely common concern, and one which leads to many further problems if behaviours are left unchanged. Investing in equipment which facilitates a more user-friendly, ergonomic workflow is a great step to reduce the strain, particularly in your fingers, hands and wrists. And looking to alter the way you interact and work alongside the rest of the dental team can drastically change the effects on your whole body during the working day.
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Nimisha Nariapara
Nimisha is the Trade Marketing Manager at Carestream Dental covering the UK, Middle East, Nordics, South Africa, Russia and CIS regions. She has worked at Carestream Dental for the past 7 years, where she has developed her marketing skills and industry knowledge to bring the core values and philosophy of the company to the market.
[i] Patel, Darshita Paresh Kumar. “Ergonomics and dentistry: A Brief Review.” (2021). https://www.medicalandresearch.com/assets/articles/documents/DOCUMENT_20210219114002.pdf
[ii] Sachdeva, Akshat, Sumit Bhateja, and Geetika Arora. “ERGONOMICS IN DENTISTRY.” OHASAJOURNAL. https://www.ohasa.co.za/journals/2021-22-4.pdf#page=7
