Dental Ergonomics: An Interview with Bethany Valachi

Today, I have my friend, Bethany Valachi. She's been to Jamaica several times, and she agreed to chat with me for a little bit on this podcast. Welcome, Bethany. How are you doing today?

Bethany

I'm good. Thank you, Heather. It's a joy to be here with you today.

Heather-Dawn

Great! I know so much about you, but I would love for you to share just a little something about Bethany Valachi. Who is she and what does she bring to the world?

Bethany

I am a physical therapist who became interested in dental ergonomic or dentistry after I married a dentist who had severe low back pain.

It was after I researched the problem, got my ergonomic certification, and helped him implement proper ergonomics, proper exercise, and proper stretching.

Twenty seven years later, he is still practicing full time but no has longer back pain. It has been my full time job in the last 20 years to help dental professionals work without pain.

Heather-Dawn

It's amazing how an act of love becomes a purpose in life.

If he’s still having a thriving dental practice, you must have done something right. You have our air today, Bethany. I know that you've coined this term Posturedontics. What is Posturedontics?

Bethany

I created Posturedontics as a dental ergonomic educational resource for all dental team members.

They can go there and find education on low back pain and neck pain as well how to select the right dental stool, how to select the right assistance stool, how to resolve your trigger points, and what types of exercise for dental professionals are.

There's a lot of free content as well so that team members can have a place to find a direction to go and to know that there are so many people who have resolved their pain in dentistry and that work-related pain is not a necessary byproduct of dentistry.

Heather-Dawn

That is so important because we're good at taking care of people but not so good at self-care.

There is definitely room for us to learn from you. So, are there certain parts of the body that dental assistants should pay attention to?

Bethany

Yes, I would say that the number one area assistants should pay attention to is the low back because that becomes the most frequent area that causes disability.

And it's one of the most challenging because assistants have to assume contorted positions oftentimes and be forced to accommodate those positions.

Heather-Dawn

I use my mouth mirrors so that we can position the patient, but maybe not always ergonomically correct.

So what if the dental assistant feels fine? Is there a need to do anything? Or should they take some preventative measures? What do you think?

Bethany

Well, let's say that my teeth all feel fine. Should I brush? Should I floss? I shouldn't. I shouldn't need to do any of that if my teeth don't hurt. Did I answer the question?

So just as in oral health care, structural damage can be occurring at a microscopic level, and assistants know very well.

Microtrauma’s structural damage can be happening at a small level that people don't feel it until one day all of that small damage accumulates.

That is why we don't want to wait for the painful episode because structural damage has already occurred by then.

So it really behooves assistants to do preventive ergonomics and stretching exercise on a regular basis, and make it a part of their job.

Heather-Dawn

We often don't pay attention until we have to pay attention.

This is such great information because a lot of our listeners are just coming into the field of dentistry.

They could be saying, “If they could take time back to do some of what you're asking me to do now, I wouldn't have to shake my head to say that I understand what you and your husband did.”

But it’s never too late to switch gears.

So you have a website that is Posturedontics where assistants could go to see some stretches that you recommend, right?

Bethany

Yes, and there’s a free eBook they can download to get started along with a free video and a few recommendations on how to select the right dental assistant stool, how to avoid the wrong types of exercise, and what things to get you started off on the right foot. That is at https://posturedontics.com/bonus/.

Heather-Dawn

Thank you for being so generous with your information.

I'm sure our listeners will make their way to check out what's there and hopefully they will start off on the right track.

So, you also know that high heels are the finishing touch for the perfect dress. What is your take on wearing high heels with the perfect black dress?

Bethany

Wearing high heeled shoes now is not a bad thing. However, if you're experiencing discomfort or pain when you're wearing them, you definitely should pay attention.

And here's why.

When you're wearing high shoes, it directly impacts the low back, which causes tightening of the lumbar muscles.

I just shared with you that the body area most prone to injury in dental assistants is the low back.

I would suggest that as an assistant, you must wear high heels in moderation, every now and then. And if you start to experience discomfort, then don't wear them for a while.

Heather-Dawn

I know you said that Posturedontics has quite a few stretches. But could you single out one or two that you think would be good stretches for dental assistants, and how often you think they should stretch?

Bethany

Yes, and one that is especially good for dental assistants is a rotational twist in the opposite direction because dental assistants tend to always slightly lean forward and to one side.

So imagine you're sitting in the chair, you're in a right handed operatory, and you're on the patient's left side, right?

So you're going to cross your right leg over your left leg. Your left arm is on your right leg and you're twisting your body looking over your right shoulder.

Okay, did that just sound like a twister?

So yeah, that was probably a lot of information. It's kind of challenging to share a stretch over the podcast, but assistants should be stretching every 45 to 60 minutes and performing side stretch.

Heather-Dawn

I thought you were going to say once a day.

Bethany

No, and but they only have to hold it two to four breath cycles. So let's think about this.

The assistant can stretch while the dentist is maybe doing patient education on a procedure or when he is sculpting a composite carving and amalgam something like that.

So look for those little time periods when you can do that stretch, and keep in mind that stretches must go in the opposite direction in which you tend to be positioned in general.

So you're always slightly leaning forward.

Extending backward over the back of the backrest of the chair is another great one.

Heather-Dawn

Find opportunities to stretch muscles that are used on a regular basis. I am learning!

So this podcast is for dental assistants, but you know, I'm picking up all the tips for myself as well. So, Bethany, if I was to ask you, what is the number one piece of advice that you would want all dental assistants to know?

Bethany

Every dental assistant should be standing half of the time and 50% of their assisting should be performed in the standing position because you are prone to low back pain.

Now this can be a little tricky if you are a tall assistant with a short dentist, right? But for most team members they can they can work it out.

When my husband is on a saddle stool, he's sitting a little higher in general than he’s not sitting on a saddle stool, and that's a great opportunity for assistance.

To stand is when the doctor is positioned a little bit higher. So look for those opportunities to alternate between standing and sitting.

Because there's numerous research that shows that alternating between standing and sitting in dentistry is very effective in preventing low back pain.

Heather-Dawn

That is so interesting! I never knew that it's better to alternate sitting and standing because I thought that the best thing to do was to position yourself using an ergonomics stool.

Bethany

I've got lots more to share.

Heather-Dawn

Yes. I am pretty sure about that when my listeners look to the link that I'll put below this podcast, and I'll post it in my IG as well. So people can readily get that information and start out ahead of the game.

Bethany

Sounds great!

Heather-Dawn

So you know, I always like to end my podcast with a quote. And I wonder if you have one that you'd like to share with my listeners today?

Bethany

One of my very favorite quotes that is applicable to work-related pain in dentistry is,

“If we listen to our body’s whispers, we can help prevent our body screams.”

Heather-Dawn

That is so awesome. Can you say that again?

Bethany

Yes. “If we listen to our body’s whispers, we can help prevent our body screams.”

That is from my friend, Dr. Ken Kohn, by the way, so I need to give him credit.

Heather-Dawn

Yes, thank him. Listen, it has been a pleasure speaking with you today. I have one request. And that is that at some time in the future, you'll join us again for part two.

Bethany

I would be very delighted. It has been a pleasure to talk with you again and see you again, Dr. Heather.

Heather-Dawn

Yes, I remember you in Jamaica because you’ve been there more than once. But I remember you came and lectured specifically to our dental assistants.

So I had to get you on this podcast because we need to know what you know. Thank you for all these pearls of wisdom.

Bethany

You're most welcome. It's been a joy.

Heather-Dawn

Yes. Thank you. All right, we'll talk to you the next time.

Bethany

What a wealth of information! Remember my dental assistants,

• We should be paying attention to the lower back.

• Regarding high heels, you must wear them in moderation.

• Be mindful of that lower back stretch. Stretch every 45 to 60 minutes at work and assist sitting and standing. It's better for your back. Stretch in the opposite direction than you're normally positioned.

• And remember what Dr. Ken cold says. “If we listen to our bodies, we can help prevent our bodies from screaming.”

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 Would you like to LISTEN to this article?

This is Episode 21 of my Irreplaceable Dental Assistant podcast.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .