Dentistry: A Growing Domain for Ergonomics

Abstract

Dental health care delivery systems, by virtue of their nature as man-machine systems, fall under the domain of investigation of ergonomics. Research work in the ergonomics of dentistry in the United States and Europe is discussed. This paper summarizes the findings of on-going studies at the newly established College of Dentistry at the University of Florida. The method of approach followed in these studies is given. Actual recording and analysis of clinical operations indicate many problems that lend themselves to solutions based on principles of ergonomics, These problems encompass the areas of dental operatory design, equipment design and utilization and the environmental conditions of the dental operatory. A discussion of some of these problems and recommendations for their solutions are presented. The paper shows that ergonomics can have a large impact on the effectiveness of dental health care delivery systems. The author advocates the idea that the study of ergonomics should be included in the dental curriculum,