GAP Australasian-Dentist-Mar Apr 2019

Category 10 AustrAlAsiAn Dentist t he most important thing in your practice is you. it doesn’t matter if you have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on your practice and equipment, or $5,000 on a Chinese made dental unit. if you don’t set yourself up in a correct ergonomic way then you are in the same boat – heading for pain. it’s no secret that a large percentage (70%+) of dental practitioners suffer some back, neck, shoulder pain (many acute), and that almost all will suffer at some stage during their careers. it is also no secret that proper saddle sitting combined with quality prescribed loupes and a properly positioned dental unit can help to greatly reduce or eliminate this back, shoulder and neck pain that afflicts so many. so, this already being known and proven – why wouldn’t you do something about it? Do any of these sound familiar? u i already got some “ergonomic” stools included with my dental package (OK, so if they are actually ergonomic then why do you still have pain?) u i tried a saddle seat once and didn’t like it (there are many styles, and it can take time to adjust – take the time!!! it’s worth it.) u it doesn’t come in the right colour (really? Does your decor come before your health?) u i really need a backrest (no you don’t. really, trust us, you just don’t) u i already got a cheap one off eBay (no comment required) Ok, so you have decided that maybe you should do something about that twinge in your back before it gets too bad – great! like any product you purchase – do your research! not all saddle stools are created equal and while some designs have remained unchanged for decades, others (such as salli) have continued to research and modify their products to improve them. At its most basic, a saddle chair is designed to put the user in a riding like position with their thighs pointing down at an angle of 45 degrees. this allows the pelvis to rotate forward more easily, and the user to sit more upright with the classic, neutral “s” spine shape which minimises pressure on the discs. Many dentists attempt to replicate this downward thigh position somewhat by sitting on the edge of their current flat seat, or angling the seat pan forward, or using a cushion wedge. While these methods may provide some relief, they do not necessarily provide a balanced position and are difficult to maintain (this is key). You may also feel like the chair is pushing away from you as the sitting force is not directly down, but angled away from you somewhat. this can also cause extra tension in the legs and hips while trying to maintain this position as extra weight is applied on them. Change your life for just $800? n ws R C M Y CM MY CY CMY K amos_salli260718.pdf 1 26/7/18 4:42 pm Q&A with Dr Daniel Andrews – Hobsons Bay Dental Q: What was your previous operator chair? a: Chairs that came supplied with my dental unit. Q: Why did you choose Salli? a: Comfort, height, improve posture, back concerns long term, wanted fully adjustable not all in one like the other brands. Q: Has Salli changed how you perform your work? a: it has improved my posture and vision. Q: Has Salli helped with any health issues/pain during work and/or outside of your work environment? a: i am fortunate enough to not have too many issues previously, but i’m sure long term i’ll be much better off. Q: How did you find the adjustment period? a: it took a few weeks, now i will never go back to a regular chair. Q: Does anyone else in your practice use Salli? a: it started with one practitioner who wanted it now all 5 of us use it. Q: Would you recommend Salli to your peers? a: Definitely, it’s a game changer. Q: Do you think Salli is a good investment in your health and wellbeing? a: Yes, in this career posture improvement is the key to longevity. Continued page 12