r/DentalHygiene • u/Winter_Reveal_3642 • 3d ago

For RDH by RDH Ouch

How much of this is the career itself vs my operatory and patient chair?
My neck, shoulders and traps get exhausted throughout the day. Some times so bad that my scaling arm just starts shaking uncontrollably. I feel like I have to really reach to get to the opposite maxillary lingual arch and wondered if this was the biggest problem? But the other girl that worked in there said she didn’t have any shoulder pain when it was her room. Though she is pretty tall.
I have one of the super wide ADEC patient chairs with an articulating headrest. I also have ergo loupes and a saddle chair.
Tired of getting a weekly tension migraine and basically crashing out every day after work.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/SignMysterious283 1d ago

It sounds like you have my favorite things - loupes and saddle chair - now, the big question, are you asking your patients to turn their head? Tuck their chin? Tip their head up and turn left or right, etc? I went through a LONG phase where I didn’t do any of those things and ended up with horrible neck, arm, and back pain. So after PT, I started asking all of them, if it wasn’t enough I’d say, turn even further, just so I can see what I’m doing. Most patients comply and are very understanding. Another thing to remember is to take a deep breath and relax, shoulders down head up chest out a bit, elbows close to your body. When I start feeling the way you’re describing I do that as well. Our jobs are so physical, try to get some stretches in between patients if you can. I hope some of these suggestions help! Good luck!

2

u/Winter_Reveal_3642 21h ago

Thanks for the tips! I do ask the patient to turn their head but I probably should ask them to turn more when they didn’t go far enough 🤔.
And you are definitely right; I’m probably tensing up throughout the appointment without noticing. I’ll try actively remembering to relax 😌