What it takes: Neck and upper-back pain
Leaning and twisting to see into a mouth holds the head forward and tilted for most of the day. Neck and upper-back pain are among the most reported problems in dental professionals.
Dental hygienist
Leaning over patients, fine instruments in hand, eyes inches from teeth.
Dental work holds the neck bent and the arms raised while the hands make precise, forceful movements. Neck, shoulder and hand problems are very common in dental professionals, alongside exposure to blood, saliva and gloves all day.
What it takes and what to do
What it takes: Hand and wrist strain
Scaling and instrument work use a pinch grip with force, repeated for hours. That pattern is linked to carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist tendon pain.
What to do about Hand and wrist strain
Do tendon glides for your handsDailyMove your fingers through five positions to help the tendons slide smoothly through the wrist. Stretch your wrists and forearmsDailyGentle wrist flexor and extensor stretches for hands that type, grip or tap all day. Train your gripWeeklySqueeze a firm ball or grip trainer to keep your hands and forearms strong.What it takes: Shoulder strain from raised arms
Working with elbows lifted away from the body tires the shoulder muscles and is linked to rotator cuff problems over time.
What to do about Shoulder strain from raised arms
Do band pull-apartsWeeklyStretch a resistance band across your chest to strengthen the upper-back muscles that pull your shoulders back. Do wall angelsDailySlide your arms up and down a wall to train the muscles that hold your shoulders and upper back upright. Stretch your chest in a doorwayDailyOpen up chest and shoulder muscles that tighten from hunching over desks, steering wheels and phones.What it takes: Glove and hand-washing skin irritation
Gloves all day and frequent hand washing dry and crack the skin, and some people react to latex or glove chemicals.
What to do about Glove and hand-washing skin irritation
Moisturize and glove your handsDailyMoisturize after every hand wash and wear gloves for wet work, chores and cold weather.What it takes: Eye strain and splatter
Close focus for hours tires the eyes, and spray from instruments can carry debris and germs toward them.
What to do about Eye strain and splatter
Wear eye protectionAs neededPut on safety glasses, goggles or a face shield for work, chores and hobbies that throw debris, chemicals or sparks. Follow the 20-20-20 ruleDailyEvery 20 minutes at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get a comprehensive eye examYearlySee an optometrist or ophthalmologist every one to two years, and every year once you are 65 or at higher risk.When to see a professional
See a doctor or physical therapist for numbness or tingling in your fingers, neck pain that spreads into an arm, or shoulder pain at night. Report needlestick injuries right away through your workplace. See a doctor for hives, wheezing or swelling after glove contact.