Q. What factors contribute to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) in the dental office?
A. WMSDs in dental personnel is a significant issue, that does not get enough attention in terms of prevention efforts. Ergonomic stressors include, but are not limited to:
- Repetitive motions (e.g., scaling, polishing)
- Awkward and static neck, back and shoulder postures
- Poor or improper adjustment of equipment
- Infrequent breaks
The April issue of The Dental Safety Compliance Newsletter will feature an article on dental ergonomics by a leading expert, Bethany Valachi, MS, PT, CEAS. She is president of Posturedontics, a company that provides research-based dental ergonomic education (www.posturedontics.com). You can sign up for our complimentary Newsletter in the Web Form in the right column of this Blog Page.
