How To Improve Ergonomics In Dentistry

[@TeethTalk]

🦷 Want to become a dental hygienist? Watch my free RDH Video Checklist: bit.ly/rdh-video-checklist

[@toothfairy430]

I love yoga with Adrianne. I started watching her several years ago and she's got such great precise videos and regimens and a super calm and funny personality.

[@meggie93meow]

I literally just turned in my senior research that was completed on ergonomics. Such an important topic for hygienists!

[@TeethTalk]

Yes!!! Awesome topics! Sending positive toothy vibes your way!

[@mathewlee5712]

So I guess offering a massage therapy gift certificate to a dentist or dental hygienist would make a great gift!

[@shivamassachi1078]

Great video! Yes chin tucks are super important!! I also put a light resistance band behind my head and do chin tucks to strengthen the back of my neck. Dental professionals have weak neck muscles in the back of the neck and tight neck muscles in the front from constantly looking down. Loupes plus light is a must Lots of rows with dumbbells (keep back straight/ chest out) Proper foam rolling Yoga/ stretching Also for your saddle chair try to raise it higher I try to keep the pt mouth at elbow height Watch out for shoulder shrugging and chicken wing arms or I’ll get major neck pain Massaging my dominant thumb muscle after SRPs Use indirect vision with my mirror Supine for maxilla/ semi-supine for mandible Adjust headrest as needed Alternate sitting and standing Magnesium supplement to relax the muscles Remember to stay hydrated throughout the workday to keep my muscles and spine healthy Keep instruments sharp Let the cavitron do the hard work for you Hope this helps

[@TeethTalk]

I LOVE EVERY SINGLE THING YOU JUST TYPED! THANK YOU so much!!!!!!!!! Stay well!

[@shivamassachi1078]

Alexis Erica thanks Alexis :)

[@ahmedsamirhamza4757]

wat u mean by let cavirtron do hard....??☺️

[@shivamassachi1078]

@@ahmedsamirhamza4757 use the cavitron/piezo/ ultrasonic water scaler on difficult calculus vs hand instrumentation alone

[@rocknrobin7]

Yes, yes and yes! I’m a firm believer in massages. I’m on a 2X monthly and I couldn’t work as a hygienist without them!!!

[@shanil55]

The way you said “ergonomics” at the beginning of the video literally sent chills down my spine. You’re amazing 😊

[@kathyschaner8751]

I have a saddle chair. It took about 1 1/2 to 2 months to get past the saddle sore feeling. But now I love it.

[@carro9405]

Hi Whitney! I'm from Sweden and just started to work as a dental hygienist, I graduated in january this year. I think proper ergonomics is actaully really hard to maintain! It would be really helpful if you could make a video showing your operating positions when scaling quad 1, 2, 3 and 4. Do you use your hand-mirror a lot or do use direct vision? Some tips and tricks would be great, thank you!

[@TeamJabob]

I’m an assistant going into hygiene. One of the scariest things to me going into it is experiencing burnout and body fatigue from working full time in the chair.

[@PrincePalmUwU]

if your eyes are feeling heavy just to add onto it or tired eyes you can close your eyes and wait for 15 minutes. it helps me ((not in RDH yet)) but I game a lot and the stretches you mention works really well. highly recommend it before work like you mention and yeah, good stuff.

[@kingd4323]

I sat up straighter just watching your video. Great tips!

[@katieb3143]

Love it! Very helpful :) I recently invested in loupes with a headlight after a couple years of practicing without and it is life changing!!

[@TeethTalk]

TOTALLY life changing :) Thank you for watching!

[@lilarose9348]

Do you recommendations of brands? A hygienist I worked with raved about her loupes/headlight but hers were $3,000 which is a big investment.

[@brookerowe9245]

I told all my classmates about you and we’re all loving it. You’re the best

[@TeethTalk]

oh my goodness thank you so much!!! are you in DH school?!?!

[@brookerowe9245]

@@TeethTalk just dental assisting.....for now 😊

[@Beccasculinaryadventures]

I love love love your videos!! I am starting Dental Hygiene School this fall. Your videos have been so information 😁

[@TeethTalk]

thank you for watching! and congrats on getting into DH school! wishing you a positive toothy journey!

[@user-yb6xn3ut7o]

I enjoy your content and your humor. I agree massage is beneficial. It would be great if massage was covered as a preventive by health Insurance. I used to get massages every two weeks to every month until the massage therapist assaulted me. I reported him and slowly fell out of getting massages. Unfortunately I couldn't find anyone as good as him. I was so upset snd saddened about the betrayal and losing the massage therapy I so desperately needed for my chronic pain from years of DH practice. An alternative that I use is a theracane. It helps to get the knots out of my back and shoulders.

[@davidparks4835]

Wow, this really helped! Future stretching videos for the ergonomics would be quite helpful;)

[@DrU_4]

Well done in the video, One Advice to all professionals out there is to invest a time in the day for understanding what our body needs and try slowly, step by step a day, I wish Ergonomics and Economics both r added in the curriculum as a core subject. Cheers

[@colleennye]

I love the eye stretch reminder

[@ali.p.5237]

I’m currently in pre-clinic and I keep getting points deducted when I’m doing my competencies because I keep forgetting to maintain neutral body position. Of course I’m reminded at the end of the day when my back starts hurting ( I’m getting a back brace to help) but I honestly think a lot of these issues will be eliminated once I get my loops. Which unfortunately won’t happen until I start clinic 1☹️

[@ginaplopper-norton8839]

Hey can you do an x-ray tips video?

[@TeethTalk]

Currently I have a video to help with patient care during X-rays - but I plan to soon make a video for the clinician and angulation! Until then, hope this video helps: teethtalkgirl.com/videos/how-to-survive-dental-x-rays?rq=X-rays

[@mimi02201992]

I'll totally have to take a yoga class as my PE prerequisite. :)

[@phyllojoe5346]

Whitney, if you like barre maybe look into adult ballet classes! If you are near a city or a big town there should be a studio with beginner, intermediate, and advanced! It's awesome. I can learn ballet even though I never touched it as a kid!

[@TeethTalk]

YESSSSSSSSS I love that you're saying that because I've been getting into that lately as well too!!! :) :) :) thank you!!!

[@phyllojoe5346]

@@TeethTalk Wait shit awesome! How are you liking ballet? I just love the opportunity to learn something that is hard to approach if you are not 7 years old lol. Gymnastics, if your joints can handle it, is another sport super similar that is rewarding as an adult!

[@dance_cj]

I did a ballet barre class through zoom it was really really good! As I’m at home I miss ballet so much! 😔 I was supposed to become a ballet teacher this year so I’ve been trying to give classes through zoom! More than welcome to join me! 💕 x

[@TeethTalk]

That sounds SO amazing! I would love to join one day!!! DM me the deets on IG :)

[@dance_cj]

Teeth Talk Girl will do! 💕 xx

[@darianfoley8682]

Hello! Thank you for all of the helpful tips, I just finished my first quarter of hygiene school and I'm loving it. I'm not sure if you have posted a video about loupes on your channel yet, but it would be amazing if you could. Out of curiosity which brand do you use and why? Do you have any specific pros/cons with them?

[@TeethTalk]

thank you for watching!!! I have not yet done a loupes video! I've been waiting until I try all the brands :) coming soon!!!

[@ShowMeYourTeeth]

Whoa just calibrated my eyes and looking up felt sooo foreign. Thank you for the tip!!!

[@TeethTalk]

Totally! I LOVE that stretch! Stay well!

[@lunalov3y357]

I am not a dental professional, but I have TERRIBLE posture! This reminded me to stand up and stretch! 😜

[@TeethTalk]

Totally!!! We can all use better posture!

[@pedramtajeddini5100]

Great content! I have a question to ask. 3 years ago i chose dentistry over medicine. That day I'd had a neck pain and pain in the fingers of my right hand for a week. I thought, i didn't have any major problems with my neck before and I've been feeling this pain for a week so i don't wanna decide against dentistry because of it. But unfortunately the pain hasn't gone away ever since. Doctor said it was probably a bad idea for me to choose dentistry because there should be a problem with my neck (herniated disc) and i went for MRI and doctors said it's fine and i need physical therapy and it helped but after six months the pain came back. My therapist said it's not a big deal just stiffness and trigger points. It's not severe but even walking or standing triggers it. Both stiffness and pain in neck and pain in the fingers of my right hand. Now I have 3 more years to finish dental school and I'm not even sure if i can become a dentist or not. Or even if i should quit or not. I don't even know if it's too late for me to get into med school. It's really hard (if possible) to do that now. I feel like i made a huge mistake. I'm 21. How serious do you think it is? Should i quit dental school? Some people say dental radiology is a good choice for me but in order to make enough money to own my own dental radiography clinic i need to work as a general dentist for some time. It means a lot if you answer.

[@laketown5802]

What a great video! It's given me more to think about. I'm 42, and am seriously considering a new career and enrolling in a dental hygiene program....my worry is my body and staying in good shape.

[@TeethTalk]

that is so great! I'm excited for you! you'll be great especially since you're already being conscious of a healthy body! you got this!

[@laketown5802]

@@TeethTalk Thank you so much! Besides being the most adorable DH on YT Your channel has provided a lot of info and I'm very grateful!! You will be seeing me around here for Sure! Oh and the hand exercises are amazing especially for me who types all day. 😍

[@rocknrobin7]

I started school for dental hygiene when I was 45. When all was said and done with prerequisites and then getting into the program, I was 49 when I graduated. I’m still working and hygiene today! I say, do it!

[@landofmilkchillies5832]

Hi Whitney please leave a link for where you bought these loupes....I'm struggling to find reliable ones

[@TeethTalk]

hi friend! these ones are Designs For Vision and I've also used Surgitel. hope this helps!

[@adrian6892]

I like your vids. Keep up the good work girl

[@TeethTalk]

thank you so much for watching!!!

[@jeffkeith637]

I was just thinking about this after watching a simulated examination. Hunching is so easy but so bad. Kinda like junk food.

[@TeethTalk]

Totally! Great analogy!!!

[@calebthomas5411]

I’ve had surgeries on my back twice when I was a baby! Now the dentist chair kills my back when I lay back! Thankfully my dentist are super amazing and cool! I kinda just tilt my head back lol

[@rabaouiaymen6049]

hey doc i love you and your videos what is the safest way to withen the teeth at the dentist and how many months this treatment will last thank you❤️

[@colleennye]

What kind of massage? Where do you go?

[@lilarose9348]

Saddle chairs look extremely comfortable 😳

[@rabinarubi1990]

Thanks dear, it’s very helpful video for me😘

[@TeethTalk]

Thank you for watching!

[@sunshineasmr5821]

Do you have a workout routine? You're in amazing shape

[@TeethTalk]

I don't have a solid routine - but I do practice yoga routinely and occasionally take barre classes! I love both they are SO amazing. Thank you for watching!

[@niakaproductions2020ukus]

29th March 10005 (recorded) 2:40 PM

[@awilli1044]

Love your videos! I noticed your light on your loupes is cordless... what brand are your loupes and light?

[@TeethTalk]

Yes! Love the cordless! These are from designs for vision :)

[@husainansari61]

Sooo helpful thx .What loops u recommand??

[@shivamassachi1078]

Husain Ansari I personally have Q-optics brand Loupes and Light

[@Rojas199]

I been having so much trouble ugh 😑

[@RubenWauters-g1m]

❤ruben

[@Cacowninja]

3:03

[@fofo-yw7dv]

Do you feel pain while working?

[@jumpingjellybeans1056]

I'm surprised you didn't say "drink more water "

[@TeethTalk]

ahhhh YESSSS! always good to drink more water!!!

[@jumpingjellybeans1056]

@@TeethTalk Lol when can I give you a list of my questions?

[@lucky4u359]

What about 16-20 patients a day... Love you way of explanation.. Huh you commutation skills are awesome.. Sorry but you could add what should be the proper position during scaling procedure.. Thanks a lot.