- What occupational diseases are dentists exposed to?
- Occupational diseases of dentists - how to avoid them?
- It is worth taking advantage of physiotherapy
Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Occupational diseases do not bypass dentists, although they treat others on a daily basis. The work of dentists may contribute to various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. What are dentists' occupational diseases and how to avoid them?
Although the greatest influence on the formation of occupational diseases is caused by all kinds of unfavorable factors related to the profession that have been repeated for years, these ailments are to a large extent also related to other causes. These are, for example, genetic predisposition, individual tendency to develop posture defects, body structure, bones and joints, as well as general immunity of the organism.
Occupational hygiene is very important for good he alth. However, some diseases are difficult to avoid due to the position taken in the performance of professional duties, which leads to injuries of the musculoskeletal system. This is the case with dentists.
What occupational diseases are dentists exposed to?
The problem related to the practice of the profession is most often the overload of the cervical and lumbar spine.
There may also be back pain, muscle contractures and spinal curvature disorders - e.g. abolished cervical lordosis. The consequence of many years of neglect or bad habits may also be premature degenerative and productive changes, discopathies and coexisting root syndromes (symptoms of brachial and sciatica).
Dentists often have changes in the upper limb. This work is conducive to overloading the joints: wrist, elbow or shoulder girdle - usually this applies to the leading limb.
The following syndromes can be listed here: carpal tunnel, painful shoulder, as well as enthesopathies of the lateral and medial epicondyle of the humerus, the so-called tennis elbow and golfer's elbow syndrome.
These diseases occur mainly in people who perform long-term static work or with low load, associated with repetitive hand movements.
Occupational diseases of dentists - how to avoid them?
- There are many ways to slow down the progression of the condition or prevent it from happening. “First of all, pay attention to the ergonomic posture during work. It is important to adjust your seat and the patient's chair to your own height and working technique, appropriateadjusting the lighting, as well as limiting staying in a bent and twisted position for a long time - comments Piotr Wilk, Enel-sport physiotherapist. - Dental rehabilitation is primarily the orofacial area. Our goal is to reduce pain, obtain the correct range of jaw movements, normalize muscle tension or correct posture during work "- he adds.
It is worth taking care of the correct posture not only around the patient's chair. It is also important to adjust the height of the desk and monitor when filling out medical records - sitting in front of the monitor at the right height, deep in the chair, with a properly supported lumbar section.
It is also important to use additional equipment when working at the computer, e.g. gel pads under the forearm.
As with any work, also for dentists, regular breaks are recommended, during which it is recommended to take a short walk or perform a few simple strengthening and stretching exercises.
Extremely important, although not easy in the hectic daily duties, is also reducing the level of stress - it is helpful, for example, to practice sports regularly, take relaxing walks and stay outdoors, which is worth finding time for in your weekly schedule.
It is worth taking advantage of physiotherapy
It is worth taking advantage of the physiotherapy of back pain syndromes and diseases of the upper limb. Manual therapy, kinesiotherapy (therapeutic exercises), kinesiotaping, dry needling, physical therapy treatments (shock wave, electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, ultrasounds and others) and therapeutic massages, not only reduce pain, but also help in obtaining the correct ranges and proper traffic patterns. Exercise under the supervision of a physiotherapist also normalizes muscle tension and corrects existing posture defects.