Hosted by Christina Potestas @christina_oralhealth I bring to you in this episode a great chat I had with Stephanie Botts @steph.polishedposture – For those unlucky ones that have yet to come across her online, Stephanie is a registered dental hygienist and specialist in office ergonomics sharing some really important advice around our posture and wellbeing as dental professionals. Based in Denver, Colorado, Stephanie has gained over 40 thousand followers on social media and continues to spread her message via virtual assessments and her new podcast Straight up with Steph. We spoke about how dental school is an effective time to start establishing good posture habits to make a huge impact in preventing pain and avoiding long-term health issues. She shared so many good bite sized tips that are easily digestible to start implementing today and emphasises its never too late. Stephanie says “this is the only body we’ve got” so I hope this episode helps you on your way to protecting your career through posture. Key moments 0:00 – 3:30 – Stephanie’s journey into dentistry and her interest in ergonomics 3:30 – 9:00 – The importance of establishing good posture habits early in dental school 9:00 – 12:30 Common posture mistakes made by dental students and professionals, such as poor patient positioning and lack of indirect vision 12:30 – 15:00 Ideal neutral posture for the head, arms, and shoulders 15:00 – 18:00 Ergonomic loops as a tool to improve neutral head position 18:00 – 21:30 Exercises and micro breaks to strengthen muscles and prevent fatigue 21:30 – 26:00 Preventing and addressing dental injuries through ergonomics 26:00 – 30:00 Ergonomic equipment and tools that dental practices should provide, and what clinicians can invest in themselves 30:00 – 32:00 The cervical cushion as a tool to improve patient comfort and positioning 32:00 – 37:00 Resources and certification options for learning more about dental ergonomics Stephanie Botts Stephanie has been a clinical dental hygienist for 15 years, and currently practices in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about her role in her patients’ health and well-being. Like many dental professionals, Stephanie has noticed increasing pain over the years due to the repetitive motions under a static position that the practice of dental hygiene requires. She began to ask herself, “What will my body feel like 10 years from now? Or 20? Will I be able to enjoy my retirement or will I be in chronic pain due to my career?” These questions motivated her to learn about proper ergonomics and different equipment choices that can allow for pain free practice. Stephanie now helps others in her field with customized ergonomic assessments and coaching. She knows the realities of daily practice in a dental office, the unique challenges we face, and can help you not only improve the quality of your practice, but the quality of your life. Instagram @steph.polishedposture Podcast: Straight up with Steph Dental Protection Limited Dental Protection have proudly been supporting the Dental Head Start podcast since day one! The Dental Protection team understands the ever-changing challenges faced by dental professionals and we take our responsibility to members seriously. Our professional protection package helps you practise with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are always by your side if things go wrong. With over 40 years protecting Australian dental professionals, we have the global stability and financial resilience to be by your side for a lifetime of support, even in the most uncertain times. Dental Protection membership is free for students and new graduates and includes access to professional indemnity, support and advice when you need it, free CPD and a whole lot more. Join today at https://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/join The post Tip #143 – Protecting our career through posture with Stephanie Botts appeared first on Dental Head Start .
