presents:
Can Work-Related Pain Be Avoidable or Reversible? In the School of ErgoPractice®, Part 1 B. J. Chang, PhD A large majority of dental professionals and surgeons today
Statistics of Loupes
experience pain in their necks, shoulders, and upper backs. Many
Today the majority of dental professionals and surgeons use
practitioners believe chronic pain is a necessary evil inseparable
loupes. Based on various survey data we estimate that more than
from the practice of dentistry or surgery. But, work-related pain
85% of current loupe users may be using traditionally designed
can be avoidable or reversible if we work with ergonomically
loupes with inadequate declination angles (smaller than 25
designed loupes and headlights. Loupes, often called surgical
degrees). Less than 15% of current loupe users may be using
telescopes, establish one’s posture (good or bad).1 Headlights may
ergonomically designed loupes with adequate declination angles
either support or break the posture established by loupes.
(larger than 35 degrees).4,5 After using traditional loupes for 5 to
Are Tools Available for Practicing Dentistry or Surgery Pain-Free? The answer is defi nitely yes. During the last twenty (20) years SurgiTel has been dedicated to designing and building tools
15 years, many users have developed chronic pain or injuries in their necks, shoulders and upper backs. But they do not know that the main cause of chronic pain may be the continued use of traditionally designed, posture breaking loupes.
clinicians have testifi ed, the use of SurgiTel ergonomic loupes2
Why are Most Dental Professionals and Surgeons Using Traditional Loupes?
and headlights3 has helped dental professionals and surgeons
Pain due to the use of non-ergonomic loupes will take many years
avoid, alleviate or eliminate chronic pain.
before it becomes overwhelming and contributes to injury. Most
which enhance a clinician’s work and assure their safety. As many
users do not know that their loupes are the main cause of chronic In order to achieve a truly comfortable and safe posture, one that
pain because traditional loupes have been sold as ergonomic
will reward you with a long and pain-free career, there are two
loupes. Even traditionally designed loupes help users achieve a
critical tools and one supporting tool:
straighter lower back, but they will still force users to excessively
1. Loupes: Can make or break your posture. Ergonomic
tilt their heads.5 Believing they have ergonomic loupes based on
loupes will allow you to sit upright with a comfortable level
manufacturers’ advertisements, they often attempt to manage
of head tilt.
their pain by visiting chiropractors or physical therapists rather
2. Headlights: Maintains the posture established by
than searching for ergonomically correct loupes. But without
ergonomic loupes.
eliminating the root cause, treating symptoms is not a long term
3. Seating: Supports the posture created by loupes and
solution and cannot reverse their pain.
headlights. Educating customers on the ergonomic benefi ts of SurgiTel’s Most manufacturers have labeled their traditionally designed loupes
advanced loupes and headlights, SurgiTel has become one of top
as “ergonomic loupes.” Traditional designs can help users sit with
three loupe manufacturers in the world within a relatively short
a straight lower back, but cannot support a neutral neck posture for
period of time. SurgiTel continues to increase market share among
most procedures. Traditional loupes provide partial ergonomics.
new, young loupe buyers. In the early 1990s SurgiTel introduced