Your hands are your greatest tool

Featured Products Promotional Features

  Posted by: Dental Design      14th June 2023

In dentistry, hands are a dentist’s most valuable tool. Regardless of whether you’re providing everyday dentistry or more complex treatment, providing effective care tends to involve a minutiae of hand movements and sustained awkward positions. This is especially true in cases where there is restricted visibility or access – dentistry is a lot more physically demanding than most people believe.

However, due to the strenuous nature of providing treatment, professionals need to protect themselves by working ergonomically.

Common wrist and hand injuries

One of the most prominent issues in modern dentistry is how common hand and wrist injuries are among professionals. Research estimates that these types of injury are four times more prevalent among dental professionals compared to the general public.[i] However, putting all wrist and hand injuries under the same umbrella doesn’t adequately represent the problem, especially as the severity of these conditions and consequences vary.

Here are some of the most common hand and wrist problems faced by professionals:

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where individuals develop pressure on a nerve in their wrist. Symptoms often include an ache in the hands or wrist, tingling, and difficulty gripping items.[ii] Dentists are particularly at risk of developing this condition as it is more common in people who regularly have to repeatedly bend their wrists or who work with vibrating instruments.

While not always a major concern, if left untreated carpal tunnel syndrome is likely to advance, eventually requiring corrective surgery if other treatment measures such as hand exercises aren’t having the desired effect.[iii]

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

This condition is when the tendons running along the thumb side of the wrist become inflamed, causing tenderness and pain.[iv] This condition can result in individuals having problems moving their thumb, forming a fist and grasping or gripping objects.

Again, repetitive motions and overuse of the thumb and wrist are the main culprits behind this condition, meaning that dentists who regularly perform treatment throughout the day are at a high risk. Those with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis will likely be given a splint to wear that immobilises the thumb and wrist until the problem has corrected. As you can imagine, this splint makes practicing at best difficult.

Osteoarthritis of the fingers and thumbs

Osteoarthritis can affect singular digits or every finger on a hand/hands, causing stiff, painful joints. The symptoms of this condition include swelling, tenderness and a crackling sound in the affected joints, all of which can make everyday actions uncomfortable.[v]

There are various causes of osteoarthritis in the hands, including continued use after injury, age, obesity and genetics, amongst others which can also influence a person’s risk level. This means that dentists can be at added risk due to the ongoing use of their hands.

Smarter working for better health

Unfortunately, the effect of such problems on the professionals working life can cause discomfort and, in extreme cases, prevent their ability to carry out their work. As such, it’s important to explore ways to improve your working environment, allowing you to reduce such risks and continue to provide patients with exceptional care.

It is always worth protecting yourself by researching hand and wrist exercises which can be performed regularly, to help warm up and strengthen joints. Awareness of the best posture when treating patients and use of ergonomically designed instruments will reduce pressure on wrists and fingers. Although time is limited, taking a break when you feel fatigue and ensuring that you pay attention to your physical health is always a top priority.

Another solution is to complement your working style with ergonomic equipment and instruments. Ergonomically designed products can make all the difference, as these have been specifically created to reduce the strain of repetitive movement and safeguard health.

When choosing your handpieces, it is always beneficial to choose manufacturers who make ergonomics and product efficiency a key focus of their research and development. This is why W&H produce handpieces that are designed for maximum comfort for both the practitioner and patient. The priority for W&H is to support the clinical team by working with them to produce handpieces, such as the Synea range, that are designed to improve your working day and limit risks caused by discomfort or poor ergonomics for the future. When choosing your handpieces, take a look that the W&H Synea range for top quality handpieces designed to give maximum comfort. 

Take care of your greatest tools

Although dentistry is a profession dedicated to improving the health of others, dentists need to take the time to look after themselves, too.

To find out more visit www.wh.com/en_uk, call 01727 874990 or email office.uk@wh.com

 

[i] Dental Products Report. Hand Pain in the Dental Practice: when it’s not Carpal Tunnel. Link: https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/hand-pain-dental-practice-when-its-not-carpal-tunnel [Last accessed December 22].

[ii] NHS. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/ [Last accessed December 22].

[iii] NHS. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/ [Last accessed December 22].

[iv] OrthoInfo. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. Link: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/de-quervains-tendinosis/ [Last accessed December 22].

[v] NHS. Osteoarthritis Overview. Link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/ [Last accessed December 22].

---