Ergonomics
Position makes perfect
According to International Ergonomics Association (IEA), “Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimise human well-being and overall system performance.” In short, ergonomics is about the human engineering that aims to protect humans’ health and boost the working efficiency. Also, it is known that health can be divided into physical health, psychological health, and social well-being. In this passage, it will mainly focus on the ergonomics and physical health of dental hygienists as well as the patients.
1. Operation positioning
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(Figure 2) The head is on top of neutral spine with forward neck flexion 15 to 20 degree or less. For vision, eyes should be directed downward to prevent neck and eye strain.
In addition, in order to maintain the neutral position, the working distance from clinician’s eyes to the patient’s oral cavity is suggested to be 15 to 22 inch. (Figure 3) The shoulders should be relaxed and parallel with the hips and floor. Elbows should be parallel with the floor. Wrist and forearm are in straight line. The full body should be disturbed evenly on the seat. Knees are slightly apart and feet are flat on the floor
Moreover, ergonomically design chairs can put the clinicians into proper position, reducing strain on the spine, lower back, and shoulder, and arms. For the acceptable chair, the chair should have a board, heavy base and readily mobile. Base with five casters provides greater stability and can move around the client’s head during care. The seat is padded firmly and the height depends. The back should also be adjustable for lumbar support. The free rolling provides mobility and casters give free movement around the dental chair.
2. Patient
Dental hygienists examine for signs of abnormalities oral diseases, for example decay or gingivitis, then they will provide treatment if necessary. They play an important role in evaluate patients’ oral health and interpret findings for the dentists. Also, Dental Hygienists educate patients how to keep their oral healthy. It is obvious that Dental Hygienists have to work by hands all the time; therefore, they are required to keep their hand totally clean and get them sterilized before and after each patients. They have to wear protection tools including safety glasses, masks, and gloves to prevent infection for themselves and patients (Bureau of Labor
During hourly rounds assess the patients pain level and take necessary intervention to alleviate pain, reposition patients who need assistance and make sure that urinals and call light and telephone are within reach of the patient. Taking care of these needs in a timely manner will make the patient comfortable, which will reduce anxiety and stress levels in the patient and reduce the risk of falls. The nurse should always make sure that the environment is safe for the patient by keeping the area clutter free. Comfort measures like tightening the wrinkled bed, giving warm blanket, changing moist dressings or repositioning the tubes or other objects that bothering the patient can enhance their comfort level Monitor high risk patients with delirium, dementia, hypotension, medications, and other conditions which can increase the risk of fall. Providing safety companions for continuous observation and to help the patients will reduce the number of falls. Nurses should educate and encourage patients to use the call light and phone to call for help. Provide patients with appropriate assistive devices like cane, walker as needed to keep them steady. I believe the concept in this theory of comfort can be utilized to reduce the occurrence of falls in health care settings.
Dental hygienists play an important role in the dental care facilities since they apply their knowledge on every case by removing tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth. They are in charge of applying sealants and fluorides to the teeth in order to protect them, they take and develop x-rays which helps them determine the patient 's vocal health and then present all this information through a report for the dentists to see. Once they have documented the patient 's care, they begin a treatment plan for each patient. They also educate their patients about the oral health and techniques they should apply and how to brush and floss the teeth accurately. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016-17, p.2) Dental hygienists apply critical thinking, compassion towards their patients, interpersonal skills, and dexterity while on their jobs and are supposed to be very detail oriented since they work on small parts of the body and need precise use of the tolls. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016-17, p.4).
The structure that furnishes the axis for the rotation of the head from side to side is the:
Young children and many adults are terrified of visiting the dentist. The first clinician they would see is the dental hygienist, making it extremely important for the dental hygienist to be kind, understanding, and easy to talk to. These characteristics will allow patients to be at ease and enjoy their dental visits. It is also important for dental hygienists to be good listeners so they could understand their patients` concerns. Physical skills are just as important as interpersonal skills in this career. It is important to have good finger dexterity and near vision. These physical skills will come to good use because the job of dental hygienists require them to use instruments in the small area of a patient's mouth. It is also crucial that a dental hygienist be in good physical shape. Dental hygienists spend most of their time crouched over a patient which could result in back pain if the hygienist is not healthy and
As all Americans’ know, job stability is close to a foreign language. Not many people choose the job of a dental hygienist, though it is perfect due to the population increases and high demand. At the beginning at 2016, it was looked upon as one of the fastest growing occupations, dental wise. If one was to be occupied by this jobs, their services would be demanded frequently, whether you are finishing your certification program or in your career already.
The client must be sitting up nice and straight with their head slightly tilted towards the floor to prevent unwanted graduation, it is absolutely vital that the client does not have their legs crossed as this could cause problems with balance and symmetry.
In conclusion, I have developed further competence in the components that make a successful dental hygienist after writing this paper. This has helped me expand my awareness of exactly how patients and coworkers play a crucial role in my professionalism. As I maintain professionalism, respect, empathy and the added characteristics mentioned in this paper, I trust I will be a successful
A vocation as a dental hygienist offers an extensive variety of difficulties. In the dental office, the dental specialist and the dental hygienist cooperate to meet the oral wellbeing needs of patients. Since every state has its own particular regulations with respect to their obligations, the scope of administrations performed by hygienists shifts from state to state. A percentage of the administrations gave by dental hygienists might include: quiet screening strategies, for example, evaluation of oral wellbeing conditions, audit of the wellbeing history, oral tumor screening, head and neck investigation, dental graphing and taking circulatory strain and beat taking and creating dental radiographs (x-beams) evacuating math and plaque (hard
It is important for every dentist and dental hygienist to be knowledgeable of the prevention, diagnosis and management of a medical emergency in a dental office. Being well prepared for any occurrence can make a difference in the outcome for the patient. It is essential to know what tools are available, how to use them and what the warning signs are. Some emergencies are very common in a dental setting considering the stress it can cause, anxiety and lengthy appointments. Communication with your patient is key to a smooth appointment. Many hints can come from simply doing an overall appraisal and talking with your patient. Being aware of patient’s fears and medical history can positively impact the outcome of the appointment and help you be prepared for any medical emergency.
The work environment :- GITS The work environment plays a significant role in our health. Workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses are high and lead to an enormous health burden, suffering, and economic loss. Which is why, a proactive approach to health and safety at work can help employers achieve healthier employees, low absenteeism, fewer injuries, lower long-term risk, and lower payouts for disability and health care costs. General activities :- The occupational hygienist may be involved with the assessment and control of physical, chemical, biological or environmental hazards in the workplace or community that could cause injury or disease. Physical hazards may include noise, temperature extremes, illumination extremes, ionizing
1. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population (Ergonomics).
Today in clinical I experienced how to properly position a patient to prevent the risk of further damage, such as pressure ulcers.
The purpose of this experiment was to identify which flexibility measurement tests correlate with the sit-and-reach and modified sit-and-reach tests. In more recent studies, statistics have shown that both hip flexion test results and shoulder extension test results were directly correlated to modified sit-and-reach test results (Mayorga-Vega, Merino-Marban, and Viciana, 2014). The data gathered for the sample
You may also want to choose a chair that swivels easily. Do you need armrests on your chair? If so, are the armrests broad, cushioned and comfortable? While sitting can you adjust the height of the armrests and can you move the armrests closer together or further apart? Keyboard in the ideal typing posture both static and dynamic muscle loads are minimized.