Ergonomics is a vital yet often overlooked features of surgery design that is crucial to minimising fatique and maintaining the occupational health of the dental team.

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E
rgonomics is a vital, yet often
overlooked feature of surgery
design that is crucial in
minimising fatigue and
maintaining the occupational health of
the dental team.
While ergonomics is often associated
with patient chair design, it also extends
to the entire surgery environment,
including dentist and assistant’s stools,
dental cabinetry, lighting, location of chair
controls and suction and also the height
and distance to work surfaces used by
auxiliary staff.
Research published in the International
Journal of Dental Hygiene has shown
that somewhere between two thirds and
90 per cent of dental professionals report
neck and back pain. Thankfully, greater
understanding of anthropometrics (the
study of the human body and movement)
and ergonomics (the relationship of the
human body to the environment) is
helping address these risks in the
dental workplace.
Patient chair design
Many patient chairs feature thickly
padded or inflexible backrests like
reclining lounges. While this may appear
comfortable, it puts the dental operator
in a poor work position, with the potential
for marked physical strain over long
periods of use.
Poorly designed backrests force
operators to stoop, stretch, twist or bend to
reach the oral cavity, their instruments,
suction or consumables. Repetitive
movements like this carry very real risks of
pain and injury from extended periods
working chair-side with patients.
Dental assistants are also subject to
fatigue and work injuries if they must
continually reach behind them or get up
out of the chair to retrieve items or reach
across to instrumentation or consumables
because of poorly positioned chair controls
or benches. Ergonomic studies have
shown the risks posed by extended range
of motion of the arms and shoulders,
Ergonomics product guide
Ergonomics key to occupational
health and productivity
34 Bite magazine
together with
hyperextension of
the back and neck
during repetitive
workplace activities.
Surgery layout
Many surgeries use
cabinetry adapted from
domestic designs (i.e.
kitchen cabinets) that are
not suited to seated
operators, who require a
lower bench height. While
you cannot control the size of the
surgery, you can choose suitable
equipment and flexible work surfaces.
Dental equipment manufacturer, A-dec®
was at the forefront of ‘sit-down’ dentistry
almost 50 years ago and has continued to
evolve dental equipment and dental
cabinetry to address the ergonomic needs
of four-handed dentistry.
Innovative backrest design
For example, the A-dec 500 patient chair
design was achieved by pressure-point
mapping the backrest to come up with the
ideal shape that suits both the patient and
the dentist. The A-dec 300, A-dec 500 and
A-dec 400 chairs use this approach to
provide an ultra-thin flexible backrest
inspired by the shape of an aircraft wing.
The backrest supports the patient in
ultimate comfort while giving
unrivalled access for the
dental team.
The backrest also allows the
operators to position their knees
under the backrest to work with
the patient’s head in their lap.
This allows the operator’s arms to
remain in a comfortable position
parallel to the floor. A-dec chairs
(together with dentists and
assistants stools) also have a very
low minimum height and large
range of vertical adjustment,
which suits both shorter and
taller operators. This allows a more upright
working posture, which means dentists do
not have to crane their neck over the
patient to view the oral cavity.
Dentists switching to A-dec chairs have
reported reduced neck pain and fatigue
which in some cases has allowed them to
extend their working lives. Even early on in
your career it is critical to pay attention to
your environment to avoid muscle, nerve
and joint problems that can reduce your
enjoyment of professional and personal life.
A-dec can advise on equipment and
surgery layouts that make dentists more
comfortable and productive.
Visit http://a-dec-inspire.
com or phone A-dec toll
free on 1800 225 010 for
details of your nearest A-dec
representative.
The correct chair height and the ultra
thin and flexible backrest are key
features in the ergonomic superiority of
the A-dec chair as it allows operators to
maintain correct posture while working
The double articulating
headrest enables the
patients head to be
reclined to the
optimum position for
working on the upper
or lower dentition