Summary
Did you know that 4 out of 5 dental hygienists report work-related pain?
Untreated, it can result in physical and financial disaster. The COVID-19
pandemic, with heavy personal protective equipment (PPE) and mental stress,
has added to the physical demands in the operatory, resulting in new layers of
discomfort. Due to the multifactorial nature of work-related pain in
dentistry, rarely does a single intervention (i.e. loupes, strength training)
permanently resolve these chronic issues. Research reveals 5 key areas that
are essential to effectively resolving work-related pain for dental hygienists
and the sequence in which these are implemented are also integral to
successfully resolving pain. This presentation will offer evidence-based
strategies to promote pain-free practice which will help rejuvenate your
passion for dental hygiene and extend your career.
I have been looking for solutions to my neck/shoulder issues and this webinar has hit home on exactly everything I needed to hear. This may have saved my career! Looking forward to using the stretches and exercise regime!
-Jill D. in Flin Flon, MB
Presenter
Dr. Bethany Valachi, PT, DPT, MS, CEAS
Bethany Valachi, PT, DPT, MS, CEAS, is author of the book, “Practice
Dentistry Pain-Free,” clinical instructor of ergonomics at OHSU
School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon, and recognized internationally as
an expert in dental ergonomics. For over 20 years, Dr. Valachi has helped
thousands of dental professionals prevent pain and extend their careers
with her relevant, evidence-based dental ergonomic education. She has
published more than 80 articles in dental journals and offers dental
ergonomic training.
Learning Outcomes
After the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Explain the etiologies of work-related pain in dental hygiene
- Discover the most important dental ergonomic intervention to prevent
neck pain
- Implement a technique to quickly reduce the stress response while
improving comfort with heavy PPE
- Discover how painful trigger points develop in dental hygienists
- Discover which types of stretches are most beneficial and how to
perform them
- Describe how to prevent painful muscle imbalances with proper exercise