Solving Work Related Pain in Dentistry
How can you protect your back, neck, shoulders, and hands for a long and healthy career?
Most dental professionals did not receive proper evidence-based ergonomic training in school to ensure a long & healthy career. This can lead to wasted money on non-ergonomic dental equipment, poor positioning techniques, and incorrect exercise that can result in a myriad of pain syndromes.
Research shows that certain interventions should be implemented before others. Dr. Bethany Valachi’s evidence-based eBook, “5 Steps to Practicing Dentistry Pain-Free” reveals how to eliminate pain, boost productivity and improve your quality of life!
The Royal Saddle Plus has an average size seat which fits a majority of users and the seat is highly padded, making it a nice option for male dentists.
Operator height: any
Operator body frame: any
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: Normal to hypolordotic
Armrests available: Yes. 2-D telescoping armrests
Backrest available: Yes. The convex lumbar support provides excellent support for users with low back pain or disc injury.
Adjustment: Hypolordotic – tilt seat slightly forward, and backrest adjusted forward as far as tolerable
Neutral lumbar spine – keep seat flat
In my opinion, the Crown Seating Silverton saddle is the ‘Goldilocks’ of saddle stools. It is not too wide, too narrow, too hard or too soft a majority of dental operators. It has a new soft foam technology seating is extremely comfortable and distributes weight evenly. Short nose on the saddle allows very close positioning to the patient.
Operator height: 5’4″ and taller
Operator body frame: any
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: Normal to hypolordotic
Armrests available: Yes, several styles available.
Backrest available: No.
Adjustment: Hypolordotic – tilt seat slightly forward, and backrest adjusted forward as far as tolerable
Neutral lumbar spine – keep seat flat
Scandex offers 2 styles of stools to fit slender vs. full-bodied women. The Bjorn saddle stool is mounted on a large coil spring allowing “all-directional-floating-body-movements” with the unlocked. In recent research, seating that moves with your pelvis (allowing lumbar motion) has been shown to reduce low back pain.
These tend to be one of the more highly padded saddle seats, and very competitively priced. A small base makes this saddle especially useful in cramped operatory spaces and accessing the 12:00 position.
Operator height: 4’10” to 6’0″
Operator body frame: 2 models – petite to full-bodied
Björn Series 400 Classic – for average to full bodied women
Bjorn Series 500 Classic – for petite women
Gender: women
Lumbar curve: Normal to hypolordotic
Armrests available: Yes. Three styles of armrests are available–I recommend trialing the RX2D (2D telescoping armrests) if you have not tried armrests before. Microscope users may want to opt for the more stable ‘swing arm’ SA12.
Backrest available: Yes, can be added to any Scandex stool.
Adjustment: Hypolordotic – tilt seat slightly forward
Neutral lumbar spine – keep seat flat
The RGP Straddle stool features a saddle seat combined with a backrest.
Operator height: 5′ 5″ and taller
Operator body frame: slender to medium frame
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: Normal to hypolordotic
Armrests available: Yes. 2D telescoping
Backrest available: Yes, however forward adjustability is very limited, and it is difficult to maintain contact.
Adjustment: Hypolordotic – tilt seat slightly forward
Neutral lumbar spine – keep seat flat
This dynamic saddle stool features a seat that subtly moves with the operator. Research shows that a seat that allows movement of the lumbar spine is linked to reducing low back pain. The height is easily adjustable with a handy control ring. No more groping for levers! The seat is heavily padded and extremely comfortable. The seat contour is medium wide and fits most operators well. This stool is not available with armrests or a backrest.
Operator height: any
Operator body frame: any
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: any
Armrests available: No.
Backrest available: No.
Adjustment: Seat is not adjustable, but dynamic.
The CorrectSit CM model is a hybrid saddle stool that is ideal for tall, larger dentists & hygienists. The large, convex backrest can be adjusted forward to provide excellent support to the lumbar spine. The triangular seat is deep and wide, making it an excellent choice for taller, full-bodied operators.
Operator height: 5′ 6″ and taller
Operator body frame: medium to large
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: all types
Armrests available: Yes. 2-D telescoping armrests
Backrest available: Yes, dynamic backrest with float option.
Adjustment: Hypolordotic – tilt seat slightly forward
Neutral lumbar spine – leave seat flat
Hyperlordotic – leave seat flat
The ‘sit bones’ rest on a flat surface, while the seat cut-outs allow the thighs to angle steeply downward providing similar postural benefits as a saddle stool. The newest version of the ErgoSolex stool has a shorter ‘nose’ on the seat that allows closer positioning to the patient, and a much plusher memory foam seat.
Operator height: 5′ to 5′ 6″
Operator body frame: Small to medium
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: All. Especially beneficial for hyperlordotic spine.
Armrests available: Yes. 2D telescoping armrests.
Backrest available: Yes, available in 3 sizes
Adjustment: Hypolordotic – tilt seat slightly forward
Neutral lumbar spine – keep seat flat
Hyperlordotic – keep seat flat
This ergonomic saddle-style stool by RGP facilitates the same desirable leg position as a saddle stool, but without the groin compression.
Operator height: 5’6″ and taller
Operator body frame: slender to medium/slender
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: Normal to hyperlordotic
Armrests available: Yes, 2D telescoping.
Backrest available: Yes, however forward adjustability is very limited and it is difficult to maintain contact with backrest
Adjustment: Hyperlordotic – keep seat flat
Neutral lumbar spine – keep seat flat
Designed by a physical therapist, the Back-Up Stool features a unique adjustable ‘oblique’ section on the front of the stool to allow closer positioning to the patient and also accommodate various user heights. The ‘sit’ bones rest on the horizontal part of the seat, while the thighs rest on the oblique section and slope downward. This is my ‘go to’ stool for medium & tall dentists who cannot tolerate a saddle-style stool.
Operator height: 5’6″ and taller
Operator body frame: any, especially medium – large
Gender: any
Lumbar curve: Normal to hyperlordotic
Armrests available: Yes.
Backrest available: Yes, comes with standard adjustable backrest.
Adjustment: Hyperlordotic – Seat flat or tilted slightly forward
Neutral lumbar spine – Tilt seat slightly forward
The revolutionary new ‘prism’ design in the LumaDent ErgoPrism loupe enables you to work in neutral posture for the first time ever! I was finally able to evaluate these in Dec 2021, and consider these a game-changer for dental ergonomics. While vertically adjustable flip-up loupes enable you to work with only 10-15 degrees neck flexion, prism loupes enable zero degrees (or neutral) neck flexion.
The Hero Rebel loupe features a 60 degree fixed declination angle, enabling near neutral neck posture. It also has a revolutionary bluetooth feature, enabling you to listen to music.
The Surgitel vertically adjustable flip-up loupe enables a steep declination angle (up to 50 degrees), so operators can work with only 10-15 degrees of neck flexion. While this used to be the best in the industry, prism loupes now exceed this, enabling neutral head posture while delivering dental care. However these flip-ups are lighter in weight then the new prism loupes. The frame selection, shield size, shield shape and flip-up adjustment are also extremely important considerations.
The Q Optics vertically adjustable flip-up loupe enables a steep declination angle (up to 50 degrees), so operators can work with only 10-15 degrees of neck flexion. While this used to be the best in the industry, prism loupes now exceed this, enabling neutral head posture while delivering dental care. However these flip-ups are lighter in weight then the new prism loupes. The frame selection, shield size, shield shape and flip-up adjustment are also extremely important considerations.
The Heine 3-axis flip-up loupe mounted on an S-frame provides a steep declination angle (45 -50 degrees) that keeps the operator in a head posture of 15-20 degrees. The optics of the Heine loupes are exceptional. The frame selection is one of the most important criteria. Selecting the wrong frame style can negate the ergonomic benefits of the loupe, and depends upon height of nose bridge, cheekbones and how deeply eyes are set.
This assistant saddle stool has a very narrow seat. Saddle seat shape is the most important criteria to consider in assistant saddle stools, due to the biomechanics that occur at the pelvis and hip with slight torso rotation in abducted hip postures. Selecting the wrong shape can lead to back pain. Other important criteria include height and weight.
This chair offers a unique traverse feature which can increase clearance in the 12 o’clock position to enable optimal operator access in tight operatories. Designed by Engle, it also features one of my most important ergonomic criteria in patient chairs: a narrow upper backrest to improve proximity to the oral cavity in 9:00 position.
The UltraTrim chair features a narrow, thin upper backrest that allows optimal access from 9-12 o’clock positions. Chair base located so it does not interfere with operator stool position.
| This new all-purpose curette by American Eagle was designed to minimize hand fatigue by requiring less force than traditional curette designs. It is described as a ‘double Gracey’ design with 2 cutting edges that adapt to mesial & distal surfaces. A rounded toe design enable safer access to subgingival areas, and long shank angle with slimmer blade to access pockets.
Overall Ratings:Scale 0 (poor) – 5 (excellent) Comments include: |
The SurgiTel Eclipse LED headlight is extremely lightweight, making it a favorite among dental professionals. The Eclipse LED Headlight’s switching technology uses an advanced infrared proximity sensor: the light turns on and off by waving the hand in front of the sensor. This technology can eliminate potential cross-contamination by touching battery packs or switches. According to independent researchers, SurgiTel headlights offer the bet color accuracy and are safest to the eyes due to their balanced achromatic beams.
Ergonomic Products’ Universal Workstation is located in the 1:00 position, and designed to fully utilize the assistant, to maximize efficiency. Most frequently utilized items are at elbow height.
The CordEz was designed by a dental hygienist to help reduce musculoskeletal strain and pull of cords on ultrasonic and air polishers.
It has a universal slot that fits most ultrasonics & air polishers and an adjustable band to fit your wrist or arm.
The BQE CorrectSit Stool is a hybrid saddle stool that allows correct seated posture, while supporting the lumbar curve with a dynamic backrest. Learn how to properly position and adjust the assistant stool with the Platinum WellBody System for Dental Professionals.
Dental ergonomic headrests are powerful positioning aids that improve patient comfort and tolerance to reclined positions–thereby improving the dentist or hygienist’s best working posture. Typically, dental operators use non-dental neck cushions that are too large and push the head forward and down. The cushions are available in two sizes to accommodate both flat and double-articulating headrests.
Low Profile Headrest: Realizing the need for an ergonomic cushion that fits double-articulating headrests, Dr. Valachi designed this smaller Low Profile headrest cushion to improve ergonomic positioning and patient comfort. When properly positioned, the cushion ergonomically positions the patient to preserve the operator’s best working posture. Use on all double articulating headrests and for smaller patients with flat headrests.
Original Headrest: Designed to be used with flat headrests, the larger headrest cushion improves patient comfort so the operator can gain control of the occlusal plane to optimize their working posture.
Microflex Ultraform Ambidextrous Nitrile Exam Gloves
Features: Ultraform gloves are the next step in the evolution of ergonomic ambidextrous gloves by Microflex. Features are extremely soft yet thin glove that facilitates superior tactility. Two out of three evaluators preferred the Microflex Ultraform gloves over those gloves they were currently using.
Overall Ratings:Scale 0 (poor) – 5 (excellent)
Tactile sensitivity: 4.8
Donning/doffing: 4.8
Comfort: 4.9
Grip: 4.8
Overall satisfaction: 4.5
Comments include:
“Very light-great tactile sensitivity. Really, really liked this glove. Feels like nothing is on your hand.”
“Fits my fingers better and is easier to don than my current gloves.’
“These gloves seem to tear less easily than the ones I’ve been using.”
“I like these gloves, they don/doff easily, fit well and I love the textured fingers, which provide a better grip.”
“Loved this glove….will try to get our office to switch.They had an extremely nice grip & fit.”
Smaller than a dime (0.65″ in diameter) and lighter than a nickel (0.13oz or 3g), Feather Light LED is a very lightweight and small LED loupe-light. The design and use of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy allows Feather Light to be very optically efficient while providing lightweight comfort.
This assistant saddle stool is ideal for a medium-to-tall assistant working with a medium-to-short dentist, as it has no foot ring. The positioning for this assistant stool is very different from regular assistant stools, and incorrect usage can cause low back pain or injury. To learn correct assistant ergonomic, positioning and seating guidelines, see the Platinum WellBody System for Dental Professionals.
This stool is ideal for medium-to-short height assistants, and features a short, narrow seat pan. Shorter assistants may need to order a ‘tall’ cylinder. A tilting seatpan, adjustable backrest and torso support bar make this a very comfortable and stable base for the assistant to operate from. It is critical that the torso support bar on this chair is adjusted correctly, and the assistant is positioned correctly chairside. Follow adjustment and positioning guidelines in the Platinum WellBody System for Dental Professionals.
Crown Seating also makes a larger version of this stool (C60ABT) for larger stature assistants. This is a good idea if only larger assistants will be using the chair, however the stool is too large for most average size operators.
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