Intervention of Modern Ergonomic Design in Ergonomics Risk Assessment Study Among Dentists

Abstract

The contemporary approach to ergonomic design involves leveraging state-of-the-art technology to enhance the health and safety performance of the human body, surpassing the outcomes of traditional ergonomic methods. Meanwhile, in a knowledge of health, ergonomics is very critical for healthy development. The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in dentistry have been identified as a significantly increase day by day. Application of ergonomic principles in the design of work systems is worthy to explore in preventing occupational injury among dentists. Hence, the aim of this study is to perform an assessment study on work‑related musculoskeletal disorders among dentists. Nordic questionnaire and observation are conducted to determine and identify WMSDs such as instruments, equipment and working postures that does not fit the requirement of dentists while doing daily activities at their workplace. This study suggests that working posture with long treatment time are contributing to the development of MSDs. The utilization of non-ergonomic saddle chairs in dentistry has been found to have negative effects on the human body. Consequently, a contemporary approach to saddle chair ergonomics has been undertaken to address this issue, with the ultimate goal of enhancing health and safety performance and mitigating musculoskeletal disorders commonly experienced by dentists.