Ergonomics and specific equipment in pediatric dentistry
Ergonomics is the art of managing a wealth of knowledge in a relatively limited time and space context, constantly focused on quality work.
It will concern both the dental practice and the elements that compose it (workstation, instrumentation) as well as the disciplines practiced in our profession.
Pedodontics is one of these disciplines and has the particularity of being located at the crossroads of all the others.
I/ Definition of ergonomics:
The term Ergonomics comes from the Greek “Ergon” meaning Work and “Nomos” meaning Law. The term “ergonomics” is relatively recent.
Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary science; it is defined by: “The set of studies and research which aim at the methodical organization of work and the layout of equipment according to human possibilities”
II/ The working position
- The choice of armchair
An armchair must be chosen according to 7 criteria:
- Provide easy access to the patient and ensure a comfortable position;
- Have a narrow, flat backrest;
- Have an adjustable headrest, ensuring head support;
- Digital or foot-operated electric control mechanism;
- Allow a position low enough to have the patient’s mouth at a correct height;
- Noise requirements;
- The chair lowers very low and makes it easy for a disabled child to transfer into it.
- The working position
It organizes the position of the body during acts according to body segments with a position of
reference in relation to each act and from which one must not deviate.
- Hand position: The arms are roughly vertical and the forearms horizontal.
- Height of work surfaces: the patient is approximately at the height of the practitioner’s elbows.
- The ideal basic position is:
- The “lunchtime” job that is particularly profitable in terms of spinal economics.
- The child’s head is on the practitioner’s thighs and his legs are on the knees of the attendant who, facing him, holds his arms.
III/Ergonomic design
The firm is in the category of establishments receiving children with obligations to comply with regulatory standards in terms of safe reception and easy access for people with disabilities.
- Reception: is the first part of the office visited by the young patient. This space is the
transition area between the “outside” and the waiting room. The ideal would be to have:
- From a 1.10 m high counter,
- A waiting room of at least 3.50 m,
- “Pleasant and reassuring” decoration.
- It should be peaceful and welcoming to relax and reassure him.
- It can be divided into two distinct parts, one reserved strictly for welcoming patients, the other being the work area of the assistant or secretary.
- The waiting room
- It must be visually pleasing, with the most sober, familiar and soothing decor possible.
- It must be easy to ventilate because the office has a procession of odors that can be reminiscent of those encountered in hospital wards and likely to bring back painful memories.
- Must be cleaned regularly. The level of cleanliness is a good indicator of the
rigor with which hygiene is applied throughout the rest of the office.
- The furniture, the decor, the accessories of this room must contribute to making you forget
inactivity and impatience, by capturing attention and arousing interest.
- Create a children’s area in the waiting room. Children’s furniture
with a coffee table and small chairs is often appreciated.
- Recent and age-appropriate magazines can be placed on the table.
- The provision of colored paper and pencils is also possible
to install a board with chalk or colored pens.
- The practitioner can also provide toys for the little ones, a television showing cartoons or short films about the world of dentistry.
- Decor is a very important element of the waiting room. The color red should be avoided; instead, the choice is oriented towards more soothing colors like green or any other light color.
- Do not hesitate to personalize this decor with flowers, an aquarium, which relax the little patients
- The walls are nicely decorated with paintings of landscapes, sailing, etc., but even humorous pictorial representations of the profession should be avoided, as well as anything that might seem shocking or embarrassing (e.g. old or damaged furniture).
- The waiting room should, if possible, be bathed in daylight while preserving a certain privacy thanks to blinds and filters.
- Lighting is a very important element of the atmosphere of the waiting room, the light
should not be too aggressive, nor too pale.
- The treatment room
The treatment room is often divided into two parts, one is reserved for the interview with the child and his parents, the other for the actual treatment.
For children, everything in the interview space should evoke play. Therefore, you can display
the drawings made in the waiting room.
The practitioner’s interest in children is demonstrated through posters and photos of their heroes. The organization of work in the office must be carried out in such a way as to ensure maximum physical and psychological comfort for both the practitioner and the patient.
IV/ specific equipment in dentistry: There are now fun care accessories that help demystify the dental practice:
- Decorated cups,
- A colorful mask
- The practitioner can also opt for cheerfulness by wearing colored coats on days when he sees a lot of children. The color breaks up the austerity of white or blue, generally associated with the surgical environment of hospitals.
- A bib with drawings
- The practitioner can also purchase children’s sunglasses to protect the little one.
patient from the glare of the scialytic lamp.
- Instruments with colorful necks are also sold.
- The images are taken with ISO child-sized films, size O (2 x 3 cm) in the temporary dentition and at the beginning of the mixed dentition. After the age of 8, standard ISO size 2 films (3 x 4 cm) can be used.
- Angulators: are systems for positioning X-ray films. The practitioner must never hold the film in the mouth. In younger patients, the use of a flap film holder (Hager Werken) glued perpendicularly to the film can make it easier to hold them in the mouth, parallel to the axis of the teeth being examined, by reducing the space required.
- Syndesmotomes (sickle or straight) and elevators are not different. Only the forceps used for temporary teeth differ from those used for permanent teeth. The handles are shorter. The jaws are more curved to adapt to the coronal morphology of deciduous teeth.
- Preformed pedodontic crowns, Introduced in the 1950s, preformed nickel chrome crowns are available in 6 sizes for both sets of teeth. There are two types: non-curved and curved.
Conclusion
Order, rationalization of work, method are key words closely linked to the success of a pediatric dental practice .
The practitioner must also think carefully about the organization of the office and the elements that make it up in order to improve their working conditions.
However, the priority objective for the practitioner is the choice of instruments and materials which allow him to improve and facilitate his activity.
Ergonomics and specific equipment in pediatric dentistry
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Fluoride mouthwashes strengthen enamel and prevent cavities.
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A soft-bristled toothbrush protects enamel and sensitive gums.