Page 40 - COS-FOD2015

Faezah et al.

Dental ergonomic practices of muscular pain-free respondents
Sufficient light at workplace

Instruments are placed within easy reach
Work instruments are in optimal conditions so no need to do extra work

Position the chair to maintain an ergonomic posture

Adjust the chair so that your thighs are parallel to the floor

Adjust the patient’s chair when accessing different quadrants
The instruments placed within hand reach without making strenuous

movements
Aware that the dental stool used in the clinical practice can be ergonomically

regulated for the individual needs
Work stool is comfortable
Use hand instruments with larger-diameter handles

Use a surgical magnification system when necessary

Table 1: List of correct ergonomic practices among muscular pain-free dentists in UiTM

Some of common doings of respondents that unlike other researches that reported highest
caused muscular pain were identified. The prevalence of neck pain (2, 17), our result
actions of maintenance of same postures showed highest prevalence of shoulder pain
without microbreaks and performing torsions or and followed by neck pain. For comparison,
cervical flexions to improve vision while working Dayakar et al. (2013) reported highest

in oral cavity were significantly (P<0.05) prevalence of back pain and followed by neck
correlate to the muscular pain they pain and shoulder pain. The location of pain
experienced. perceived by the denstists were believed to be
sourced to their practice at work. Different way

of setting and posture would resulted in pain at
Discussion different area. Besides that, Gupta et al. (2013)
reported similar pain pattern of occurance in all
This research examined the prevalence and
dental workers, not only in dentist but also in
distribution of muscular pain among dentist in
dental hygienist and dental assistants. In our
UiTM. The result showed high prevalence
study, the highest prevalence of shoulder pain
(92%)of muscular pain among the respondents.
may be contributed by handling of small
The result was in agreement with Dayakar et al.
instruments during treating patients which
(2013) who reported a slightly higher
required awkward arm and shoulder positions
prevalence of 93.9% (16). On the other hand,

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