Original Research Article Santosh University Journal of Health Sciences 2015;1(2):68-72 68 Ergonomics for Dental Professionals Meenakshi Rana 1 ,*, Binita Srivastava 2 , Nidhi Gupta 3 , Natasha Gambhir 4 , Rashi Singh 5 , Neeti Mittal 6 Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry Santosh Dental College, Santosh University, Ghaziabad *Corresponding Author: Email: meenakshi12rana@gmail.com ABSTRACT Occupation related diseases are increasing day by day and one amongst them is musculoskeletal disorders due to improper ergonomics in dentistry. These disorders can result in pain and dysfunction of the neck, back, legs and hands and fingers. Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing products and procedures for maximum efficiency and safety. These conditions provide easiest way to work improving the delivery of dental services. So, dental surgeons need to update themselves regarding the occupational hazards in dentistry so that they can overcome these disorders. This article sets forth broad important background information on ergonomics so that the dental practitioner can have a general awareness of ergonomic risk factors as well as some basis for understanding the ongoing dialogue about ergonomics, its diagnosis, treatment, and regulation. INTRODUCTION Recently, “Ergonomics” has become a popular term. The term has been used with most professions but increasingly in the dental profession. In Greek, “Ergo,” means work and, “Nomos,” means natural laws or systems. Ergonomics is a way to work smarter—not harder—by designing tools, equipment, work areas and tasks to fit the individual worker. It leads to improved productivity, reduced injuries, and greater worker satisfaction.(1) It takes account of the worker’s capabilities and limitations to ensure that tasks, equipment, information and the environment suit each worker(2). Dental professionals are commonly exposed to a variety of occupational hazards such as chemical, biological and ergonomic which create musculoskeletal disorders. Dentists and dental hygienists are at a greater risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders than the general population. 54% to 93% of dental professionals have been reported with work-related musculoskeletal injuries with pain and dysfunction most frequently occurring in the spine (neck and back), shoulders, elbows and hands. Dental hygienists in one study reported neck pain associated with working in a bent neck position, and neck symptoms were reported by 72% of a sample of 94 experienced hygienists (mean age: 46 years).(3) These problems can be avoided by increasing awareness of the postures used during the work, redesigning the work station to promote neutral positions, examining the impact of instrument use on upper extremity pain, and following healthy work practices to reduce the stress of dental work on the practitioner’s body.(4) MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSDs) The World Health Organization defines MSD as “a disorder of the muscles, tendons, peripheral nerves or vascular system not directly resulting from an acute or instantaneous event (e.g., slips or falls). These disorders are considered to be work-related when the working environment and the performance of work contribute significantly, but are only one of a number of factors contributing to the causation of a multifactorial disease.”[5] Prevalence of MSD’S Several studies have shown prevalence of lower back pain among dentists (53.7%) while prevalence of neck-related pain was (57.5%) and the prevalence of shoulder pain among dentists was (53.3%) in Queensland. This finding is similar to an investigation of dental workers in the United States military (53%), as well as another study of Danish dentists (65%). Study from Sweden found that dentists were exposed to a high load on the trapezius muscles bilaterally, as well as prolonged forward bending of the head [6]. MSDs classification[7] 1. Nerve Entrapment Disorders: carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy. 2. Occupational Disorders of the Neck and Brachial Plexus: tension neck syndrome, cervical spondylosis, cervical disc disease, brachial plexus compression. 3. Shoulder disorders: trapezius myalgia, rotator cuff tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, and adhesive capsulitis. 4. Tendonitis of the Elbow, Forearm and Wrist: deQuervain´s disease, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, epicondylitis 5. Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome: Raynaud’s disease. 6. Low Back Disorders: chronic low back pain