Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
12.6K
Environmental Factors Increasing the Risk of Poor Posture in Dental Hygiene Students
Trisha M Willie1, Yiyang Fang1, Nancy A Baker2
1Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Journal of Dental Education
|February 17, 2025
Summary
Dental hygiene students face high risks of musculoskeletal disorders due to environmental factors like working positions and instruments. Optimizing ergonomic training is crucial for protecting these future professionals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Ergonomics
- Dental hygiene education
Background:
- Dental hygiene students are susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to prolonged awkward postures.
- Environmental factors in clinical settings significantly influence the risk of developing WMSDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between environmental factors and poor posture in dental hygiene students.
- To identify specific clinical environmental factors that predict higher risks of WMSDs.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal cohort study involving 1487 video observations of dental hygiene students during scaling activities.
- Utilized the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) to evaluate posture and identify risks.
- Employed descriptive analysis and exploratory prediction modeling.
Main Results:
- Dental hygiene students exhibited high-risk RULA scores (mean 4.8), indicating a significant risk for upper extremity MSDs.
- Scaling instrument type, patient clock positioning, and sitting vs. standing were significantly associated with poor posture (p < 0.001).
- The riskiest combination involved manual instruments, standing, and working at clock positions 7 and 8.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors, particularly working positions, significantly contribute to poor posture and WMSDs in dental hygiene students.
- There is a critical need for optimized ergonomic training that addresses combined environmental factors.
- Protecting emerging dental professionals from long-term adverse health impacts is essential.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
25
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
25
01:28Factors affecting Blood pressure
2.9K
Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
Physiological Factors:
2.9K
01:15Teeth
290
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
290
01:21Tooth Anatomy
323
The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
323
01:08The Availability Heuristic
5.9K
A heuristic is a general problem-solving framework (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). You can think of these as mental shortcuts that are used to solve problems. Different types of heuristics are used in different types of situations, and the impulse to use a heuristic occurs when one of five conditions is met (Pratkanis, 1989):
5.9K
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
3.6K
The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
3.6K