Dr. Bethany Valachi, PT, MS, CEAS

Backrests are an important consideration when selecting an operator stool.

Understanding the differences between delivery systems can help you select the right one for your team.

Saddle up! Research has shown that a saddle-style stool could save your health-and your career.

For years, sitting with your hips at a 90-degree angle was thought to be ideal. But research suggests otherwise.

Your exercise routine may be the most damaging part of your lifestyle-are you making these critical mistakes in your workouts?

Selecting the correct loupes can make a big difference for your health.

Ergonomic challenges in the front office rivals can often rival those in the dental operatory! Just as in many dental operatory scenarios, you don’t have to break the bank to ‘ergonomize’ your front office. Here are the top problems I encounter in dental front offices and easy, economical fixes.

Naturally, you want your patient to be comfortable. However, when we compare how many hours a year the average patient spends reclined in a dental chair (several hours), with the time you spend hovering over the oral cavity (over 2000 hours), who is really at risk of developing discomfort or pain?

Imagine hiring a personal trainer, participating in a CrossFit program or simply trying a new gym machine to help improve your musculoskeletal health, only to end up in more pain than when you started! Unfortunately, I hear numerous accounts of this occurring among dentists. Most healthcare professionals do not realize that dentists are predisposed to unique muscle imbalances-certain generic exercises, that are not a problem for the general population, can throw the dentist into a vicious pain cycle.

Your hands are integral to your work. Because of sustained grips and prolonged awkward postures dental professionals must employ throughout the day, they experience nearly four times the prevalence of hand, wrist and arm pain found in the general public.

Two out of three dental professionals report occupational pain - pain that if left unaddressed could progress to an injury or career-ending disability. From my 15 years of providing ergonomic consultations in dentistry, I can safely say that the following three ergonomic mistakes are among the primary reasons I see many dentists and hygienists develop debilitating pain syndromes and/or retire early.

Prolonged, awkward postures are the greatest culprits for the demise of a dental professional's musculoskeletal health1. Sustained muscle contractions can cause painful muscle ischemia and the development of "tender spots," or trigger points in muscles2.

Did you know that nearly two thirds of dentists who retire early are forced to due to a musculoskeletal disorder? And that studies show the prevalence of work-related pain in dentistry today is roughly the same as it was in 1946?  

It’s no wonder that three out of four dentists and hygienists complain of neck pain. EMG studies show that the upper trapezius muscle is the most active muscle during the delivery of dental care, which can lead to the development of a painful condition called trapezius myalgia.

You’ve had a tough day in the operatory, the sun is out, your back is aching and the green is calling. What could be better than a game of golf to work the aches out? For some dentists, just about anything!