Ergonomics and the dentist: an evaluation of clinical practice by filming analysis

Authors

  • Artênio José Isper Garbin UNESP
  • Cléa Adas Saliba Garbin UNESP
  • Nelly Foster Ferreira UNESP
  • Marcos Tadeu Adas Saliba UNESP

Keywords:

Ergonomics, dental practice, occupational diseases

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the ergonomic principles during clinical practice by dentists and staff using digital images captured by filming. Methods: Sixty clinical sessions were studied and filmed using four professional cameras CCO Color Keep HDL with fixed iris lens. A four-channel capture plate for geovision digital transmission (Pico 2000) was used to capture the images and transmit them to the computer. Results: Filming analyses showed that the dental sessions lasted in average 1h 30 min. Subjects did not put in practice basic ergonomic principles. Frequent problems were: spinal torsion to reach instruments at the 7-hour position when working at 9-hour, staff working with crossed legs, no use of the auxiliary table, upward position of the operator shoulders so that the arms were not parallel to the floor, and inappropriate seating. Conclusion: The professionals did not follow basic ergonomic principles when working. Filming the clinical sessions to analyze procedures may allow dentists and staff to work in a planned and strategic mode to accomplish the routine tasks and prevent occupational diseases. Key words: Ergonomics; dental practice; dentistry; occupational diseases

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Published

2008-06-22

Issue

Section

Original Article