Approaching dentistry from the best angle - Adam Shaw

The years towards the end of a dental professional’s career can be the most fruitful, with greater financial rewards. The height of a lifetime’s knowledge places dental professionals at the top in their career and with this in mind, CPD places heavy emphasis on lifelong learning to keep the brain astute. But what measures can be put into place in order to ensure that the modern practice supports the clinician’s body for longevity in a profession that demands physical agility and health?

Planning retirement from dentistry may be the last thing on a young dental professional’s mind, but thinking about the future is not just about pensions. People are living longer and the UK government’s policy is set to increase the number of people aged 50 + in employment by over 1 million.[1] Dental professionals are subject to higher risks of work- related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and repetitive strain injuries, which over time, may lead to long-term disability and in extreme cases, early retirement.

Dentistry requires repetitive motions of the fingers and wrists, forceful pinching and prolonged awkward positions. These factors make the clinician susceptible to MSDs, and this risk can be increased if the equipment that they use is poorly designed or improperly used. Problems that can develop may not only cause forced retirement, but also hinder their performance. The best clinician is surely a healthy one; painful working conditions and lost workdays will not be conducive to the best results.

With this in mind, preventing MSDs from occurring in the first place should be priority when considering the design of a dental practice. “Ergonomics” may have become something of a buzzword, but applying principles of safety and efficiency to the practice is a lifetime investment. The focus of ergonomics is to make the workplace and the equipment within it fit the practitioner – not the other way around. Not only this, but ergonomic design will maximise the space in the dental operatory so that patients are comfortable and the best possible clinical outcome is achieved.

Ultimately, the key objective for clinicians is to find a position that allows them to achieve optimum access, visibility, comfort and control at all times. At the centre of all clinical work is the dental unit, and one that is ergonomically sound will not only increase comfort and ensure safety, but will also account for the spatial and interactive relationship between the dentist, patient and assistant for the ideal situation: true four-handed dentistry.

Four-handed dentistry means that the practitioner and assistant act on time and motion principles and use ergonomic equipment, so that all four hands work together to deliver treatment. This approach has been praised in dentistry as the best way to increase productivity and reduce stress. If done effectively, four-handed dentistry can conserve motion so that the risks of repetitive strains and MSDs can be reduced.

In response to the demands of the industry, modern dental units have come a long way to combine aesthetics with ergonomics. The new Skema 8 from Castellini for example, has been designed to respond to all the classic two-handed and four-handed treatment procedures. Its special sliding patient chair mechanism, gives the clinician unparalleled access to the patient, as the lowering of the backrest moves with the seat rising – for a constant distance ratio between the dental unit modules and operating zone.

Ergonomic dental units should acknowledge that treatments require specific ergonomic needs. Equipment that factors this into design, will allow dentists to work with optimum freedom in any clinical situation. Good ergonomic design will also enhance seating the patient, instrument exchange, oral evacuation and infection control.

Dental units that exude the benefits of modern design will not only make the most out of the space in the dental operatory for seamless treatment, but will make your practice look sophisticated. Ergonomic design is visually stimulating and state-of-the-art dental units have impressive finishes and precise lines that emanate professionalism. 

With intelligent design the body does not have to compromise to fit to the working environment. A healthy dentist is the most important asset to any dental practice, and looking at treatment from the best possible angle, will always require ergonomic design that maximises good posture and conserves movement.

Ergonomic design in the practice is not only good for your posture but also vital for your career, especially since the attitudes towards work and ageing are changing to favour dental professionals who may wish to make the most of advanced skills and knowledge later in their lives. As technology prevails, the advancement of new treatments will continue to require acute precision and physical agility and choosing ergonomic design in practices, will preserve these attributes.   

Castellini UK Ltd

Please call 08000 933975 for details of your local Castellini dealer: Castellini has service centres through out UK