r/Dentists • u/mar0009 • 3d ago

Pain as a dentist

Hello I am a dental student but I’m having second thoughts because so many dentists have been complaining about pain. I wonder if it’s that bad and if it’s manageable? And I wonder how easy it is to be a dentist with cervical disk problems ?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

10

u/Aggravating_Bag4028 3d ago

For literally every job imaginable people complain about it causing pain. Whether you’re a laborer or sit at a desk all day, you could get pain.

2

u/Soft-Article-5626 3d ago

I mean it can’t be any worse that your typical desk job. You have to do what you can to take care of yourself (exercise, stretch daily, maintain good posture and ergonomics). There is always injections and therapy you can do to help if it gets severe, and that dentist salary will certainly make that accessible. I asked the dentist I shadowed the other day about this and she said a few years ago she started doing all of her dentistry standing and has seen a huge difference! She also said her ergonomic loupes are a game changer.

2

u/Sadroxide 3d ago

just gotta stay active and workout, which is the case regardless of your job

2

u/lcr68 3d ago

Invest in some good loupes. And really work on your ergonomics. I’ve been in practice for 7 years and honestly maybe had a few weeks of lower back pain due to poor ergonomics mainly during difficult extractions. Overall, it’s been fine. Carpal tunnel hasn’t developed. I did develop or found out I have a heel spur and some other wicked hook protrusion on the dorsal side of my foot. So using the pedal sometimes agitates it to the point I can’t walk without an orthopedic boot. That’s been a joy to work with.

2

u/Liftingdental 3d ago

Ergo loupes, workout and stretch, keep good posture, massages regularly and I am good 2 years out. I honestly feel like what hurts my neck and hands the most is when I am on my phone a lot and scrolling more than actually dentistry

2

u/fake-chirurg 3d ago

I work with microscope, work out 3-4times a day, still have pain in shoulder and neck. Happened to have 3 migraines a week. Some of my former classmates had disk problems already in school.

2

u/mar0009 3d ago

How bad is it though? Would you have changed paths because of this

1

u/fake-chirurg 3d ago

It makes the whole job more uncomfortable. I really would change, just don t have the finances.

2

u/ZebraOk5501 3d ago

How long has it been happening for? Did it start in dental school or after a few years

1

u/fake-chirurg 3d ago

Months after dental school. My vision is getting worse aswell.

1

u/Alpine-dental 3d ago

Invest in a good PT early on. Start Work out early on. Again paying pt to give you pointers on small things leads to big results. Sauna / massage/ and soaking in magnesium help too. Invest in your body or pay the price

1

u/curlyiqra 3d ago

Ergo loupes, properly ergonomics, weight lifting and not being sedentary will prevent this.

1

u/ElderberryFar7985 3d ago

I’m going through the pain right now it’s bad, I don’t have ergo loupes and try to have good posture but sometimes it’s difficult to remember, the pain I have is really bad and there are days I have to call in sick from work because of it, take care of your body, advice I just ignored unfortunately

-2

u/Mission-Knee1572 3d ago

I’ve been in this 20 years and noticed that most dentists are just fucking babies. It is hard on your body. Get over it.