Clock Positions Dental Hygiene (right handed)

8 o'clock

-maxillary and mandibular anterior

-surfaces towards

-facial and lingual

8-9 o'clock

-head turned away

-right maxillary and mandibular posterior facials

-left maxillary and mandibular posterior lingual

10-11 o'clock

-head turned toward operator

-right maxillary and mandibular posterior lingual

-left maxillary and mandibular posterior facial

12 o'clock

-patients head

-maxillary and mandibular anteriors

-facial and lingual

-surfaces away

6 o'clock

patients feet

maxillary arch

-chin up

-light angled up

mandibular arch

-chin down

-light straight down

ergonomics

an applied science concerned with the "fit" between people and their technological tools and environments

neutral position

-the joint is being used near the middle of its full range of motion

-results in a decreased risk of musculoskeletal injury

foundational building blocks of periodontal instrumentation

1- position

2- instrument grasp

3- mirror use

4- finger rests

5- stroke production

neutral neck position

-head tilt of 0-20 degrees

-the line from eyes to the treatment area should be as near to vertical as possible

neutral back position

-lean forward slightly form the hips

-trunk flexion of 0-20 degrees

neutral torso position

-torso in line with long axis of the body

neutral shoulder position

-shoulders in horizontal line

-weight evenly balanced when seated

neutral upper arm position

-upper arms hang parallel to the long axis of torso

-elbows at waist level held slightly away from body

neutral forearm position

-held parallel to the floor

-raised or lowered, if necessary, by pivoting at the elbow joint

neutral hand position

-little finger-side of palm is slightly lower than thumb-side of palm

-wrist aligned with forearm

neutral seated posture in char

-buttock all the way in the back of the chair

-height so feet are flat on the floor shoulder-width apart

-slight tilt forward so hips are slightly higher than knees (about 5 degrees)

-adjust lumbar support

-adjust lumbar height

-pull stomach muscles towards spine

-relax shoulders

-upper arms parallel to the long axis of the torso and elbows near body

supine position

-maxillary (and mandibular) treatment areas

-back of dental chair is nearly parallel to the floor

-nose aligns with toes

semi-supine position

-mandibular (and maxillary) treatment areas

-back of the dental chair is slightly upright

trendelenburg

- brain lower than heart with feet slightly elevated

-used when patient may faint

patient head position

-head must be even with top edge of headrest

-young child may need to cross the legs in order to keep from sliding down the chair

height of patient chair

2-8 in. below clinicians elbow

light and bracket table distance from clinician

-arms length away

-not too close to patient in a way that would make them hot/ uncomfortable

sequence for practicing patient/clinician position

1- ME: assume the clock position for the treatment area

2- MY PATIENT: establish patient chair and head position

3- MY EQUIPMENT: adjust the unit light; pause and self-check the clinician, patient, and equipment position

4- MY NONDOMINANT HAND: hold mirror

5- MY DOMINANT HAND: hold instruments

anterior surfaces towards clinician

-8-9 o'clock

anterior surfaces away from clinician

11-1 o'clock

posterior surfaces toward clinician

9 o'clock

posterior surfaces away clinician

10-11 o'clock

mandibular posterior surfaces toward clinician

-9 o'clock

-chin down

-head neutral or slightly away

maxillary posterior surfaces toward

-9 o'clock

-chin up

-head neutral or slightly away

mandibular posterior surfaces away

-10-11 o'clock

-chin down

-mandibular occlusal plan as parallel to floor as possible

-head towards

maxillary posterior surfaces away

-10-11 o'clock

-chin up

-maxillary occlusal plane perpendicular to floor

-head toward

ancillary equipment

-helpful during periodontal instrumentation

-coaxial illumination

-magnification loupes

coaxial illumination

-spectacle mounted or headband mounted lights

-light beam parallel to clinicians line of vision

magnification loupes

-magnifies treatment area

-improves visual sharpness

-reduces strain to clinician's back and shoulders

-decreases eyestrain

field of vision without loupes

-learning the skills of positioning, mirror use, and finger rests, the clinician needs a normal field of vision

-permits self-evaluation of skills