Evaluation of Dental Scalers
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Abstract
The current state of the dental industry shows an increasing number of dentists and dental hygienists who are reducing hours and retiring early due to the injuries sustained while working. These injuries, or cumulative trauma disorders, can be reduced by applying ergonomics in dental tool design. An experiment was designed to test a new dental scaler (A) made of a titanium rod with added compressibility in the precision grip area. The experiment utilized a Hu-Friedy sickle scaler (B) and a Practicon Montana Jack scaler (C) as controls to show two design spectrums, weight and material. The subjects (n=23) were taught the basics of scaling and required to scale using a typodont. The change in grip strength (Δ GS), pinch strength (Δ PS), and steadiness of the subject’s hand were tested. An absolute and relative rating technique was utilized pinpointing that the new dental scaler was preferred with the eigenvector (A=0.8615, B=0.1279, C=0.0106). Statistical analysis confirmed this tool preference while also finding the interaction of gender and tool and Δ GS Tool A versus Tool B for males to be significant.
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Published
April 8, 2013
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American Dental Association. (1995-2010). Dentistry Definitions. http://ada.org/495.aspx.
American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). (2010). Dental Hygiene Education Facts.
Bird, D., Torres, H., Ehrlich, A., and Robinson, D. (2002). Torres and Ehrlich’s Modern Dental Assisting. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Bramson, J., Smith, S., and Romagnoli, G. (1998). Evaluating Dental Office Ergonomic Risk Factors and Hazards. The Journal of American Dental Association, vol.129, 174-183.
CDC. "Body Mass Index (BMI)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. USA.gov, 30 Oct. 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html.
Department of Navy (DON) – Medical Books. (2010). Dental Technician, Volume 1 & 2, Dental Training Manual for Military Dentists. Integrated Publishing. http://tpub.com/content/medical/index.htm.
Dong, Hui, Alan Barr, Peter Loomer, Charles LaRoche, Ed Young, and David Rempel. "The Effects of Periodontal
Instrument Handle Design on Muscle Load and Pinch Force." The Journal of the American Dental Association 137.8 (2006): 1123-1130.
Ergonomics and Disability Support Advisory Committee. (2004). An Introduction to Ergonomics: Risk Factors, MSDs, Approaches and Interventions. 1-26.
Faust, Charles C. (1999). A Qualitative Study of Male Dental Hygienists’ Experiences after Graduation. Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Hamann, C., Werner, R., Franzblau, A., Rodgers, P. A., Siew, C., and Gruninger, S. (2001). Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Median Mononeuropathy among Dentists. The Journal of American Dental Association, 132.2: 163-170.
Jamjoom, H., (2008). Stress among dentists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Dental Journal, vol.20, no.2, pp. 88-95.
Konz, S. and Johnson, S. (2008). Work Design: Occupational Ergonomics, 7th ed., Arizona: Holcomb Hathaway, Publishers, Inc.
Simmer-Beck, M., and Branson, B. (2005). Posture Perfect. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, 3(5):14, 16-19.
Sinkford, J. C., Valachovic, R. W., and Harrison, S. (2003). Advancement of Women in Dental Education: Trends and Strategies. Journal of Dental Education, 67: 79-83.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009). Dentists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. http://bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm.
Virtanen, T. (2001). Ergonomic Survey of Dental Care. Proceedings of the Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference on Promotion of Health through Ergonomic Working and Living Conditions.
How to Cite
Evaluation of Dental Scalers. (2013). Industrial and Systems Engineering Review, 1(1), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.37266/ISER.2013v1i1.pp40-50
How to Cite
Evaluation of Dental Scalers. (2013). Industrial and Systems Engineering Review, 1(1), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.37266/ISER.2013v1i1.pp40-50
