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Dentist & Back Pain

Dentists are medical practitioners that care for the teeth and gums of the human mouth. Dental patients recline in dental chairs while work in being done in their mouths. This position means that dentists often have to bend over their patients to complete work. Awkward positioning causes many dentists to have back pain.

  1. Types of Back Pain

    • Dentists are susceptible to acute and chronic back pain due to awkward positioning that is often required in their work. Acute back pain is pain that lasts less than three to six months. Dentists who sit bent over a patient for two hours may experience acute back pain that lasts a day or two. The longer the pain is felt, the more likely it is to become chronic pain. Continual pain in the back that lasts for a significant period of time is considered chronic back pain. A dentist who repeatedly uses poor posture while performing procedures may find that she is prone to this type of pain. Chronic back pain can cause a dentist to be unable to perform the tasks required in his profession.

    Location of Pain

    • Dentists often report pain in their neck and shoulders as well as their lower back. Spending prolonged periods working with patients causes dentists to report a higher level of pain in these areas. Dentists who work with their bodies at a higher angle tend to have less problems with back and neck pain. Taking time to stretch during procedures also helps dentists relieve some of the back stress caused by bending over a patient.

    Effects

    • Dentists who have back pain may find that they are unable to complete tasks necessary in their work. Back pain can make dentists unable to bend properly to observe hard to see places in a patient's mouth. Dentists who experience back pain can encounter their ability to perform routine tasks slowed.

    Minimizing the Risks

    • Keeping instruments close to a patient will help a dentist avoid reaching that is awkward and contributes to back pain. It is recommended that instruments be kept approximately 20 inches from where the dentist is working. Avoiding appointments that are lengthy will also help dentists with back pain. If a dentist must work on a patient for an extended amount of time, he should be sure to take short breaks at intervals that will allow him to rest his back, neck and shoulders. Choosing a chair that offers good back support and a footrest will also help dentists minimize back pain.

    Care

    • Chronic back pain in dentists should be treated by a medical doctor or chiropractor. Dentists should note when and under what conditions the back pain occurs. This information will allow health care providers to better diagnose and treat back pain. When recovering from back pain, dentists should utilize dental assistants. Care should be taken that the back is not strained more than is necessary while the dentist is experiencing pain.

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