Tips for a Healthier Practice Susan Ferrante, RDH, CEAS
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet A-dec, Inc.
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Learning Objectives 1.Identify areas in
dentistry prone to bad habits/bad postures. 2. Present the impact
of poor posture and the effect it has on the overall health of the
dental team. 3. Identify common chair side behaviors that lead to
poor posture. 4. Present environmental and physical solutions to
promote healthier posture for the dental team. 5. Define the five
modalities/sources of dental lighting.
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Access to the Oral Cavity
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Patient Seating
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Ample Lighting
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet 67% 80% 70% Dentists experiencing
Musculoskeletal Disorders Hygienists Experiencing Body and Back
Pain 3 rd Year Students Experiencing Neck, Shoulder and Back
Pain
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Overuse of key muscle groups
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Habits start in School
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Neutral Balanced Posture
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Working the Muscles
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Look Familiar?
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Muscles at work
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Patient accommodation
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Access to the Patient
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Positioning the Assistant
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Posture Checkpoints Begin at the floor and
work your way up!
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Good Posture = Discipline & Practice
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Dental Teamwork
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Patient Seating Examples
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Improving Access with Simple Adjustments
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Why maintain a balance of all the
lights?
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Impact of Overhead Lighting
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Shadow dilution = poor dental lighting Caused
by foreheads, hands, fingers and instruments Dark shadows impair
diagnosis & treatment
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Other symptoms of poor dental lighting People
exposed to glare or having vision problems, tend to lean forward or
backward to compensate Awkward body positions lead to eye strain,
accelerate postural fatigue, contributing to musculoskeletal
injuries
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Light Modality: Ambient
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Handpieces
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Lights Do Different Things - Handpiece
Handpiece Lighting - very close to surface Provides lighting
directly on surface being treated
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Loupes & Lighting Magnification with the
aid of loupes is becoming a standard of care for dentists and
dental hygienists o 78% of dentists surveyed use dental loupes. o
36% of dentists surveyed use an additional light source (beyond
overhead lighting). o When asked which type of additional light
source they use, their response was: 23% Halogen Headlight 54%
Fiber Optic Headlight 5% Lighted Retractors 18% Other Source:
DentalTown e-Survey, August 29, 2003
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Understanding Loupes & Magnification
Lighted loupes can enhance the visual and ergonomic benefits of
magnification
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Daylight
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@ASDAnet #ASDAnet Summary/Review of our Learning Objectives
1.Identify areas dentistry prone to bad habits/bad postures.
Patient access, compromised visibility 2.Present the impact of poor
posture and the effect it has on the overall health of the dental
team. Pain, fatigue, sore muscles 3.Identify common chair side
behaviors that lead to poor posture. Not adjusting headrest, lights
not positioned, chair too wide, seating posture 4.Present
environmental and physical solutions to promote healthier posture
for the dental team. Dental team positioning, light positioning,
access under patient chair, proper seating, posture centered and
straight. 5.Define the five modalities of dental lighting Overhead
light, Ambient (Direct/Indirect, Task), Handpieces, Loupes,
Daylight
