It has been demonstrated that dental procedures which combine repetitive motion, compromising posture, and pinch force instrument gripping can cause significant musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), including carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Dong and colleagues noted in 2006 that dental hygienists ranked first in incidence of CTS among all occupations in the United States.1 Anton and colleagues found that 93% of participants surveyed confirmed having at least one MSD and 42% had the symptoms of CTS.2 Both conditions can lead to debilitating pain in the hand and dominant arm used for scaling, forcing workload reduction and early retirement in those most severely affected.
Various factors have an impact on how instrumentation can cause MSDs and CTS. They range from how dental hygienists hold and use instruments, to the instrument type, handle size, weight, handle surface texture, condition, and sharpness of the instrument, to the age, BMI, number of patients treated each day, and the experience of the practitioner.3
Over the years, studies have been conducted to assess whether using lighter-weight instruments with a wider handle diameter can decrease muscle load and pinch force, and thereby reduce the incidence of occupational injury. It has been found that the ideal instrument handle diameter is 10 mm and the weight to reduce pinch force is 15 g or less.1,4 One study determined that friction between the instrument handle surface and a gloved hand further reduced pinch force, with the greatest friction demonstrated when nitrile gloves were used in combination with a knurled surface.5
As ergonomics became a more mainstream concern, manufacturers began to consider and implement improvements to dental instrument design in collaboration with practicing dental hygienists. Paradise Dental Technologies offers a line of lightweight (13 g) hand scalers and curettes with knurled, ergonomic handles. Through feedback from clinicians, they continue to create instruments that are not only innovative in design and manufactured with the highest-quality metallurgy, they are also developed with protecting the health of the user by addressing MSDs and CTS concerns.
To further protect themselves from the strains of the job, Stanfield3 recommends that hygienists carefully select their instruments, keep them sharp, review their techniques periodically, and consider using loupes to maintain appropriate posture and further decrease their susceptibility to MSDs.
It’s the time of year! Explore the Paradise Dental Technologies instruments that will enable you to give yourself the gift of health.
Sources:
1. Dong H, Barr A, Loomer P, et al. The effects of periodontal instrument handle design on hand muscle load and pinch force. JADA 2006;137: 1123-1130.
2. Anton, D, Rosencrance, J, Merlin, L and Cook, T. Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and carpal tunnel syndrome among dental hygienists. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 2002;42:248-257.
3. Stanfield J. A better way to scale? E-Volve-IT 2008.
4. Dong H, Loomer P, Villanueva A, Rempel D. Pinch forces and instrument tip forces during periodontal scaling. J Periodontol 2007:78(1);97-103.
5. Laroche C, Barr A, Dong H, Rempel D, et al. Effect of dental tool surface texture and material on static friction with a wet gloved fingertip. Journal of Biomechanics 2007:40 IS - 3 697 EP- 701.