Risks Of Being A Dental Hygienist

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In many careers, there are possible risks that come with a job, whether it is being struck by an object as a construction worker, coming into contact with hazardous situations as a firefighter, or extreme weather conditions as an aircraft pilot. In dentistry, a common concern is possibly overuse of muscle activity within the wrists. Being a dentist or a dental hygienist is a very hands-on job that requires repetitive arm and hand motions which can damage muscle tissues over an extensive amount of time. With a new world comes new technology, tools, and research. There have been ways tested to observe what factors can help get rid of this issue. More customizable tools and resources need to be normalized in dental offices to avoid the risk of …show more content…
Both are very painful and uncomfortable to have to live with, let alone work with, causing tingling, numbness, swelling, and/or burning sensations. This issue in the dental field could result in many people going into early retirement over how bad an MSD can get. A factor in the current dental instruments causing muscle fatigue is the cord that is attached to the tool. It is weighted and limits the user experience for hygienists, causing repetitive awkward positions and not allowing more difficult-to-reach places in the mouth. Getting rid of cords on the tools can also impact the patient’s experience as well. An article titled “Cutting The Cord” by Caitlin Parsons, a registered dental hygienist (RDH), highlights, “Reduced noise and vibration create a more comfortable environment while reducing the risk of clinician injury. No cord also eliminates potential patient discomfort caused by tangled cords or accidental tugging, ensuring a smoother and more pleasant experience.” (Parsons). This actively shows that having cordless instruments not only benefits the hygienist, but also the comfort of the …show more content…
A group of authors who wrote an academic journal called “Musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygienists in Canada” found that “This study found a high prevalence of MSDs among Canadian dental hygienists, with 83% reporting an MSD related to their dental hygiene career.” (Harris, Sentner and Doucette). Even though most school respondents asked whether they incorporate enough ergonomics and MSD preventative training in their courses, there is still a high number of DHs who experience career-induced MSDs. Dental Hygiene programs should reconsider how much commitment is being put into making sure more students are well-prepared post-graduation for this common issue that can come with becoming a hygienist. There are other solutions, along with new tools to help reduce this risk, which could be switching one longer break to smaller but many breaks throughout the day, stretching muscles regularly, and talking to employers about how long each appointment is to plan accordingly. This ongoing issue of potential MSDs in the dental field not only affects the workers, but also can affect employers as
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