Dentistry is mentally demanding, but the physical challenges of the job can have a greater impact
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 9th December 2021
Life as dentist can be mentally demanding and there are always days when things go wrong. Anecdotally, the biggest source of stress is an unhappy, dissatisfied patient, who threatens to complain. Others include management and staffing issues, also being under the seemingly constant scrutiny of the CQC and GDC.[i]
What can be a surprise, though, are the significant physical challenges that come with being a dentist, which can impact on both love for the job and the ability to do it. Research has shown that musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are the most common source of early ill-health retirement, more common than mental health issues. In one study, over half of GDPs who left the profession early cited MSDs as the reason.[ii]
The pain of back pain
Lower back pain is particularly prevalent.[iii] It can be a shock for a young dentist to suddenly experience debilitating lower-back pain, or lumbago, which will negatively affect quality of life outside the practice. Being in poor physical health can lead to poor mental health; low mood and even depression.
The statistics for MSDs and dentistry are concerning; a 2020 study among dentists and dental students found that rates were very high, much higher than the general population, and that the pain was mostly felt in the neck and shoulder areas, as well as in the lower back.[iv] Of particular interest was that female dental professionals reported an even higher MSD prevalence, despite being younger and working fewer hours per week than their male counterparts.
Relief and prevention
Anyone who has experienced any kind of MSD or injury – which includes a rage of orthopaedic disorders from tendonitis to carpal tunnel syndrome, often caused by repetitive hand movements – knows how distressing they can be. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibruprofen can be taken to relieve discomfort, but these medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs) are not for everyone and should not be taken for long periods of time. Your GP or pharmacist should always be consulted if you think you are in one of the groups at a higher risk of side effects from NSAIDs; even if you aren’t, it may be best to explore alternative options if the pain is chronic.
One of the top self-help tips is to stay as active as possible. After a hard day in practice, exercise is often the last thing you feel like doing, but even regular walking is cardiovascular and can prevent as well as improve the pain from MSDs. Studies have concluded resistance training using free weights is particularly good at helping people manage lower back pain.[v] Resistance training will also make you stronger and lifting in combination with compound movements – such as pull-ups and squats – is highly effective for clinicians who spend much of their working day sitting down and having to hold awkward positions for an extended period of time.[vi] So get back on that exercise horse if you’ve fallen off it.
Some MSDs are related to working posture. Sitting, or standing incorrectly will put too much pressure on the muscles, making them work extra-hard. One example is “hunching” over a patient, with your shoulders up and tensed, rather than down and relaxed. Repeatedly poor posture will cause it to deteriorate, leading to even further damage and injury and ultimately stop you living life to the full. Taking care of your posture now is important, to protect your future physical and mental wellbeing.
A well-designed practice, with plenty of space to move freely and sit and stand correctly is mandatory. A high-quality well-designed dental chair is also a must. Invest in equipment and tools that prevent excessive and unnecessary fatigue and exertion. Digital imaging systems offer benefits here, also look for anything that enables four-handed working, where the dentist is assisted continuously, supporting “motion economy”.[vii]Practising four-handed working is not only good for reducing physical stresses and strains, but it can also increase productivity because it streamlines the treatment process.[viii] For endodontists, one option is the CanalPro™ Jeni, from COLTENE, an all-in-one endometer and apex locator that allows autonomous navigation in the endo canal. Hi-tech yet easy to use, it gives consistent, reliable outcomes, with a wireless foot pedal for comfort and to aid four-handed working, as well as decreasing clutter.
Dentists are prone to physical injury to steps should be taken to both prevent damage, as well as relieve pain. MSDs are a prevailing problem and can be caused by sitting for long periods of time, repetitive movements, as well as poor posture. They can affect productivity, lead to days off work, or even trigger early retirement. Take physical health as seriously as mental health in the practice. Exercise is both preventative and good for pain relief, especially weight-bearing resistance training. Also take care to ensure everything in the work environment optimises ergonomics, so you can continue to work in comfort and enjoy a pain-free life, for years to come.
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email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.
[i] Collin, V., Toon, M., O’Selmo, E. et al. A survey of stress, burnout and well-being in UK dentists. Br Dent J 226, 40–49 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2019.6
[ii] Brown J, Burke FJ, Macdonald EB, Gilmour H, Hill KB, Morris AJ, White DA, Muirhead EK, Murray K. Dental practitioners and ill health retirement: causes, outcomes and re-employment. Br Dent J. 2010 Sep 11;209 (5):E7.doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.813. PMID: 20829836.
[iii] Çınar-Medeni Ö, Elbasan B, Duzgun I. Low back pain prevalence in healthcare professionals and identification of factors affecting low back pain. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2017; 30 (3): 451-459. doi: 10.3233/BMR-160571. PMID: 27858698.
[iv] Ohlendorf D, Naser A, Haas Y, Haenel J, Fraeulin L, Holzgreve F, Erbe C, Betz W, Wanke EM, Brueggmann D, Nienhaus A, Groneberg DA. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists and Dental Students in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 24;17 (23):8740. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238740. PMID: 33255491; PMCID: PMC7727829.
[v] Welch N, Moran K, Antony J, et al. The effects of a free-weight-based resistance training intervention on pain, squat biomechanics and MRI-defined lumbar fat infiltration and functional cross-sectional area in those with chronic low back. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2015; 1:e000050. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000050
[vi] Gentil P, Soares SR, Pereira MC, da Cunha RR, Martorelli SS, Martorelli AS, Bottaro M. Effect of adding single-joint exercises to a multi-joint exercise resistance-training program on strength and hypertrophy in untrained subjects. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2013 Mar;38 (3):341-4. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2012-0176. Epub 2013 Mar 18. PMID: 23537028.
[vii] Gentil P, Soares SR, Pereira MC, da Cunha RR, Martorelli SS, Martorelli AS, Bottaro M.
[viii] What is four-handed dentistry? Dental Nursing, published: 29/06/21. Link: https://www.dental-nursing.co.uk/features/what-is-four-handed-dentistry
