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Hand functionality in dentists: the effect of anthropometric dimensions and specialty
Mahnaz Saremi1,2, Sajjad Rostamzadeh1, Mahmoud Nasr Esfahani3
1Workplace Health Promotion Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Summary
Dentists' hand strength varies by specialty, age, and sex, with maxillofacial surgeons showing the highest grip strength. This highlights the need for ergonomic tools tailored to specific dental professions and user anthropometry.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Ergonomics
- Dental Medicine
Background:
- Dentists perform intricate manual tasks, making hand functionality crucial for their practice.
- Variations in hand strength and anthropometry may exist across different dental specialties.
- Understanding these differences can inform the design of ergonomic tools and improve practitioner well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dentists' hand functionality and their specialty.
- To explore correlations with socio-demographic factors and anthropometric dimensions.
- To identify how task demands in different specialties influence hand strength.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 720 certified dentists.
- Measurement of hand strength (grip, pinch) using dynamometer and pinch gauge.
- Assessment of hand-forearm anthropometric dimensions using tape measure and caliper.
Main Results:
- Hand strengths decreased with age and clinical experience.
- Male dentists exhibited greater hand strengths than female dentists.
- Maxillofacial surgeons and endodontists showed peak strengths in specific measures, correlating with forearm circumference.
Conclusions:
- Hand functionality is significantly related to dental specialty due to differing task demands.
- Dentists, like other manual laborers, require specialized ergonomic tools.
- Tool design should consider both the specific application and the user's anthropometry.
