Preventing musculoskeletal injuries in female dental practitioners

Advancement of Ergonomics in Dentistry

The presenters make the argument that women dentists are particularly vulnerable to occupational injury and pain. Research indicates that flexibility, balance, and strengthening exercises performed at home and during off-duty hours can help women dentists from sustaining musculoskeletal injuries during dental practice. The authors emphasize that women dentists must make behavioral changes with regard to positioning and rotation of tasks in accordance with their knowledge about ergonomics. The importance of selecting equipment designed for and scaled to women is addressed. The presentation includes a discussion of work-related musculoskeletal disorders common to dental service providers, and illustrates the impact that dental healthcare has on the rate of musculoskeletal disorders.

Introduction

The purpose of this table clinic is to provide women dentists and dental hygienists with examples of incorrect and correct postures while carrying out dentistry services in a clinic setting, and to demonstrate exercises that help to prevent musculoskeletal injury and pain as a result of the demands of dental practice. Research has shown that women dentists tend to sustain more injuries the job and experience more pain related to musculoskeletal causes than do their male counterparts. Most injuries are preventable through behavior change, such as rotating tasks to avoid repetitive injuries or undue strain, correct positioning, and the use of appropriately designed and scaled dental equipment. The table clinic will briefly present information on the common work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) that occur in dental service providers, including neck and shoulder disorders, hand and wrist disorders, and back disorders. Included in the presentation will be reasons why dental health-care personnel (DHCP) commonly assume awkward work postures. These reasons include: (1) To obtain better views of the intraoral cavity; (2) To provide a more comfortable position for the patient; (3) To coordinate their position relative to the dentist or assistant; and (4) While operating equipment and reaching for instruments and supplies. The presentation will clarify the risk factors associated with dentistry, such as: (1) Chronic repetitive movements of the hand and wrist; (2) Abnormal or awkward positions of the wrist; (3) Mechanical stresses to digital nerves (Ex: sustained grasps on instruments); (4) Forceful work; (5) Extended use of vibratory instruments; and (6) Inadequate work breaks. Finally, the presentation will provide a concise summary of some of the statistics of WRMSDs in dentistry.

Results

The table clinic participants will leave the session with a clear understanding of the definition of ergonomics and the goals of ergonomic design. Participants will have an enriched understanding of WRMSDs in dentistry. Table clinic participants will also acquire an understanding of how to prevent WRMSDs in female dentists and hygienists.

Discussion

The table clinic session will provide examples of ways to fit the job task to the person performing the job, and will emphasize the need to change human behavior in order to accomplish ergonomic practices. General ergonomic practices will be discussed in the table clinic, such as how to enhance performance by eliminating unnecessary effort, how to reduce opportunities for overexertion injuries, and improve comfort by curtailing the development of fatigue. Specific to the session, discussion will center on being knowledgeable about gender-related risk for occupational pain and injury, understanding predisposed positioning challenges & unique muscle imbalances, modifying working conditions to achieve optimal body posture & task rotation, and performing specific exercises at home to reduce risk of musculoskeletal disorders . Some information will have been presented about how to consider and evaluate the ergonomic features of dental equipment designed for women. Finally, the overriding theme of the table clinic is how to achieve optimum access, visibility, comfort, and control at all times.