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Flip-Up Loupes Selection | |
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Most of you who are familiar with my lectures, book or articles know the Three Essential Criteria for loupes Selection: Working Distance, Declination Angle & Frame Size.
However, here is an additional factor that can help you in the selection process. If you are shopping for flip-ups, look for a 'vertical adjustment' on the loupe that will allow lower placement of the scope in relation to your pupil. This will, in turn, allow more upright, neutral head posture. This is offered via three mechanisms among manufacturers: a vertical slide (above), vertical adjustment holes, or an extension attachment.
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It can be confusing to know where to begin in your journey to optimize your health. Research shows that certain interventions should be implemented before others. Download a FREE REPORT:The 6 Keys to Wellness in Dentistry: Essential Steps to Improve Your Musculoskeletal Health.
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Essential Tips for Loupe Wearers Issue #6 |
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| Greetings!
Earlier this year, I had the honor of lecturing at the 2009 International Dental Ergonomics Congress in Krakow, Poland. In this newsletter, I share one of the most important insights from that meeting that can dramatically improve the head posture of any loupes-wearer. Additionally, since we are an AGD PACE approved provider, you can now earn CEUs with a new "Neck, Back & Beyond" lecture on DVD.
I wish you and your family a joyful and safe holiday season!
Bethany Valachi, PT, MS, CEAS
Dental Ergonomic Consultant/Lecturer/Physical therapist |
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NEW! EARN CEU's WITH THE"NECK, BACK & BEYOND" LECTURE DVD |
 Give your team, study club or referring dentists the gift of good health with Bethany's most popular lecture AND earn 5 CEUs! Two out of three dental professionals experience work-related pain that can affect quality of life and productivity. Recorded live at the Hinman Meeting, this 2.5 hour seminar for dentists, hygienists and assistants bridges the gap between dental ergonomics and work-related pain so you can work longer, more comfortably, and with less fatigue. Delivered with high energy and humor, Bethany discusses how posture, movement, equipment selection, adjustment and operatory layout impact your health. Learn how to implement powerful evidence-based strategies to prevent pain and extend your career.
Includes live lecture on 2 DVDs with over 100 powerpoint slides throughout. Additional CD-ROM includes handouts, Q & A session, and CEU test link. Handouts are in .pdf format for easy duplication for groups.
For more information about the new Lecture DVD, click here. |
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LOUPE WEARERS: HOW TO ATTAIN THE SAFEST HEAD POSTURE |
Well-designed ergonomic loupes can improve your head posture and help prevent injury. However, what most people don't realize is that head posture can be further improved by as much as 20 degrees by using your loupes correctly! When you look down into the oral cavity, two things have to happen--you bend your neck forward and roll your eyeballs downward. Unfortunately, a natural tendency with most loupes wearers is to bend the neck forward until the oral cavity comes into view. This results in minimal eyeball rotation and a great deal of flexion of the lower cervical spine-which is where most cervical disc injury occurs (C5-6 and C6-7).
 A much safer method replaces unsafe flexion in the lower cervical spine with a lesser degree of head tilt in the upper cervical spine. This technique incorporates a greater degree of eyeball rotation and minimizes unsafe forward head postures. Loupes-wearers may follow these guidelines to attain a more neutral head posture in the operatory:
- With loupes on and head erect, focus on an object straight in front of you.
- Without tilting the head, roll the eyeballs downward to look through the loupes.
- Tuck the chin in and tilt the head slowly downward, just till you view the oral cavity.
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BOOK QUANTITY DISCOUNTS |
 Order 10 or more copies of "Practice Dentistry Pain-Free" at www.posturedontics.com and receive a 20% discount. The perfect gift for your referring dentists, team members, colleagues, students or faculty. The latest version now includes a complete index.
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Posturedontics, LLC was developed by a dental ergonomic consultant/physical therapist and clinical dentist to provide dental professionals with quality, research-based ergonomic education, products and resources. We value your input and ideas for future newsletters.
Please send us your ergonomic success stories! | |
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