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Dental hygienists endure routine physical stress by sitting in static positions and performing clinical care in restricted fields of vision.1,2 These prolonged positions also require hand and eye coordination with finely tuned movements.1-3 Repetitive instrumentation creates stress on both the dominant and non-dominate hand and can result in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).1,4 MSDs are caused by cumulative trauma of force and repetition.4-6 This excessive trauma affects bones, muscles, causes neuro-circulatory diseases, in addition to increasing the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.2,5,7
MSDs are a well-documented occupational hazard and the main cause of pain and injury within the dental hygiene profession.2-5,8,9 Female clinicians suffer from MSDs involving the spine, shoulders, and neck more often than males.10 The number of MSDs reported are directly correlated with the number of clinical practice hours worked weekly.2 This can also have a negative impact on a dental hygienist's productivity and result in missed days of work.2,7 Furthermore, this occupational hazard can decrease the long-term potential of a dental hygienist's career.2,7,9 The use of magnification loupes and lights can improve the dental hygienist's ergonomics by correcting postural positioning.11-13
It is suggested that injuries caused by MSDs can be reduced or prevented by applying proper ergonomics in combination with the use of appropriate equipment such as loupes and lights.7,10,14 This combination can also reduce cognitive and physical stress by creating a safe, healthy, and comfortable workspace for dental hygienists.9,10 Many studies support the use of loupes to improve ergonomics and help prevent the risk of work related MSDs.1-3,9,11,12,15-17 In addition, loupes can also compensate for visual deficiencies.13,18 According to Perrin et al., the potential decline in a clinician's vision over time could be compensated for with early the incorporation of loupes.18
Although loupes are being used in clinical practice to improve ergonomics, reduce MSD symptoms, and to enhance the clinician's field of vision, historically they have not been routinely implemented in dental hygiene educational programs.1,9,15 Congdon et al. revealed that only 23% of dental hygiene programs in the United States required students to purchase loupes.9 In addition, 90% of schools indicating that students were not required to purchase loupes also indicated they would not be requiring students to purchase loupes in the future.9 It was also reported that dental hygiene students who do use loupes tend to buy them in the middle of their educational program after they have already learned and adjusted to their new clinical skills.9 However, the greatest percentage of respondents in the Congdon et al. study indicated the optimal time to introduce and begin using magnification loupes is during pre-clinic instruction.9
In a case study by Branson et al., dental hygiene students self-reported positive changes in their posture and quality of work when using loupes.1 In a second study by Branson et al., clinical posture was examined with and without loupes.15 The majority of those wearing loupes reported improvement in their clinical performance.15 Furthermore, 100% of the study participants reported an improvement in posture and clinical skills prior to graduation.12
The use of LED headlamps for illumination has also grown in recent years. A study by Ari et al. found the use of a light, in combination with low-powered magnification (2.5x), augmented caries detection in primary teeth.19 The use of headlamps, also known as coaxial headlights or lights, can also enhance clinician ergonomics.20 Inadequate lighting may result in poor postural positioning contributing to MSDs.1-5,20,21 The use of proper lighting can reduce these risks by helping the operator maintain a neutral body position.20,21 The combination of loupes and lights has been shown to reduce the occupational hazard of MSDs in the dental hygiene profession.2-6,9,20,21 There have also been some concerns raised about the safety of LED headlamps.22 According to Stamatacos et al., the use of LED illumination can possibly be detrimental to the retina at certain intensities.22 However, the white or colorless LED beams are considered to be the safest and many dental manufacturers produce this type of headlamps.22
Research indicates that introducing loupes to dental hygiene students may reduce the development of poor ergonomic habits.9,12 However, the use of loupes has not been systematically incorporated in dental hygiene curricula as a best practice,9 and there are no accreditation standards requiring loupes.9 There are, however, growing numbers of practicing dental hygienists using loupes and lights to enhance visibility and improve ergonomics, often as a result of having used them in their educational programs.9,13 The inclusion of the use of these optical aids in a dental hygiene program can potentially lower the risk of cumulative trauma (MSDs) and reduce eyestrain, which may in turn prolong dental hygiene careers.9 The purpose of this study was to explore the use of loupes and lights in dental hygiene programs, to assess why they are being incorporated, and to evaluate at what point in time they are introduced to students within the curriculum.
Methods
University of Michigan (U-M) Health Sciences & Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB) determined this study was exempt from IRB oversight. (HUM00102763) E-mail addresses of the 335 dental hygiene program directors was obtained from the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Program Directory for this cross-sectional study. The survey questions were adapted with permission from Congdon et al. and modifications were completed in consultation with the U-M Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT).9 Content validity was determined through pilot testing with four U-M faculty members. Modifications to the survey were made based on feedback.
The electronic survey consisted of 20 questions including multiple choice, open-ended, Likert-scale, and yes/no options. The first four questions focused on the institutional category, degree conferred, the percentage of faculty using loupes, and a yes/no response question to students' use of loupes. Respondents who answered, "yes, their students used loupes," were then asked if the students were required, encouraged, or neither. They were also questioned on the use of lights, at what point in time loupes were introduced in the curriculum, advantages of using loupes and lights, and the overall cost of the equipment. Respondents who answered "no, their students were not using loupes," were then asked if the inclusion of loupes and lights would be considered at some time in the future. In addition, questions were asked regarding the number of hours dedicated to this topic in the curriculum, reasons why loupes are not being utilized in their program, and at what point in the curriculum did they feel that loupes should be introduced.
The survey was disseminated using Qualtrics software. Dental hygiene program directors received an email introduction/invitation describing the purpose of the project, informed consent, and a link to the survey. The survey was open to participants for one month with three reminder notifications emailed. Data analyses were performed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Frequency distributions were analyzed to provide an overview of the data. Fisher's Exact Test was used to investigate differences between technical/community college programs and university-based programs. Significance was set at p<0.05.
Results
Out of the 335 electronic surveys, 143 were completed for a response rate of 47%. Table I provides a summary of respondents including the type of educational setting and the degrees conferred. Of the total respondents, 70% were from dental hygiene programs conferring an associate's degree, with 55% from community college programs and 13% from a technical/vocational school. Twenty-two percent of respondents were from universities not associated with a dental school and 10% were from programs associated with a dental school. Ninety-six percent of the respondents indicated students used loupes in their educational programs while only 4% indicated that the students were not using loupes.
Figure 1 illustrates whether or not programs require or encourage the use of loupes and lights. Of the 96% of the respondents indicating that their students used loupes, 44% required their use. In dental hygiene programs not requiring loupes, 42% of the respondents encouraged the use of loupes within the curriculum, while 14% stated they neither require nor encourage students to use loupes. With respect to the use of lights, 57% of the respondents stated that students are encouraged to use lights, 9% require lights, and 34% neither require nor encourage their students to use lights.
When respondents were asked to report on the percentage of faculty use of loupes, 52% reported that between 76-100% used loupes. (Figure 2) This was followed by 17% reporting between 1-25% using loupes in clinic and 17% indicating between 51-75%. Twelve percent indicated between 26-50% and 2% stated that none of their faculty use loupes in clinic.
When asked the number of hours in the program dedicated to education about the use of magnification and ergonomics, 76% reported spending 1-3 hours, while 4% spent more than 6 hours, and 1% do not include magnification at all in the curriculum. (Table II) A reported 39% of the respondents estimated that students begin using loupes during the first semester pre-clinic course, 36% begin using loupes when they start treating patients, and 4% do not use loupes in the dental hygiene program. No statistical significance was found when the Fisher's Exact Test was applied to explore the differences between technical/community college programs and university-based programs for each of the survey questions.
Respondents were asked to identify the two most important advantages to using loupes. (Figure 3) Improvement in ergonomics and posture was reported by 77% of the respondents as being the most advantageous, followed by enhanced vision for instrumentation (57%), decreased musculoskeletal pain (19%), improved reading of the periodontal probe (18%), obtaining good habits for clinical care (12%), calculus detection (4%), soft tissue assessment (1%). One percent of the respondents reported no advantages to using loupes.
Student expenses for loupes and lights are shown in Figure 4. Fifty percent of the respondents reported paying between $600 and $900 for loupes, while 31% paid between $900 and $1200. In addition, 11% indicated students spending between $300-$600. With respect to lights, 47% spent $300-$600 and 22% were unable to determine the costs.
Discussion
This study examined the inclusion of magnification loupes and lights in dental hygiene programs. Nearly all dental hygiene programs participating in this study indicated loupes were being utilized by their students. In 2012, Congdon et al. reported 23.8% of dental hygiene programs required the use of loupes while this study found 44% of programs required loupes.9 The increase is notable and may be related to a better understanding about the improvement of clinical posture and clinical performance while using loupes.12,14,15 Additionally, more companies are now manufacturing loupes, making pricing more competitive.
Ergonomics and improved vision for instrumentation were the highest ranked advantages noted for using loupes. According to this study, as well as Congdon et al., these factors, and the prevention of MSDs have consistently remained the top advantages for using loupes.9 Contrary to how important proper ergonomics is to minimize MSDs, studies show that dental professionals have limited knowledge on correct ergonomic posture.10,23,24 Perhaps this is why only a very small percentage of programs dedicate more than six hours to magnification and ergonomics in the curriculum. Interestingly, nearly all dental hygiene programs have some percentage of their faculty utilizing loupes in clinic. This may also be a factor related to the increased loupes utilization by students. Faculty can serve as role models for students, illustrating the advantages of loupes, even though magnification may not be required or necessarily taught throughout the curriculum.9
As noted in Congdon et al., this study also found a majority of respondents believe loupes should be introduced in the first year of a dental hygiene program, with one-third indicating pre-clinic.9 The adjustment period is a noted disadvantage to wearing loupes.17 If introduced early in the curriculum, students have the ability to learn instrumentation while wearing loupes, lessening the effects of having to readapt to instrumentation, and reduce potential symptoms such as headaches and vertigo when using loupes in the future.17 Introducing loupes in pre-clinic could also enable students to more efficiently learn psychomotor skills as well as enrich proficiency and self-confidence during instrumentation.11 Others indicated the second year of the program would be the appropriate time to incorporate loupes into the curriculum. Perhaps those respondents felt students are overwhelmed with the new concepts of instrumentation in pre-clinic, and think it is best they feel comfortable in clinic before introducing loupes.
Interestingly, over half of the study respondents encouraged the use lights in conjunction with loupes for their students. Adequate lighting allows a clinician to more easily assess patient issues and provide quality care. The use of lights improves ergonomics by encouraging a neutral position, enhance visibility, and reduce eye strain.20,21 In addition, the inclusion of a headlamp can improve the ability to detect caries.19 These reasons may support why faculty encourage the use of lights. Students need to be attentive to the type of light they are purchasing. Guidelines have been established to minimize the potential hazards from the use of LED headlights.22 In addition to following safety guidelines, faculty need to educate their students about the potential risks to the eyes when using LED illumination.
Another factor students consider when purchasing loupes and lights is their cost. Adding the purchase of this additional equipment to the rising costs of tuition, books, instruments, and housing could be perceived as an additional financial burden for students. Perhaps institutions could utilize discounts offered to students and could also consider ways to bundle this purchase into a financial aid package. Expanding education about the benefits of loupes and lights could potentially assist students in understanding the value of such a costly purchase.
Despite the notable 47% response rate of program directors to this survey, there are limitations to this study. The results may not be an accurate representation of all dental hygiene programs since respondents were solely the program directors reporting on student and faculty loupe and light use. Further studies elucidating responses from students as well as faculty could give clearer depiction of why and when loupes are utilized within the dental hygiene curriculum.
Conclusion
Utilization of loupes and lights are increasing for both students and faculty in dental hygiene programs. The use of loupes may prevent occupational hazards of MSD injuries, enhance ergonomics, improve vision for instrumentation, and decrease visual deficiencies. Cost remains the greatest barrier to incorporation of loupes and lights and cost-effective means for their inclusion in dental hygiene educational programs should be considered. Future research should focus on the impact and safety of lights. Longitudinal studies on loupes and lights and their role in preventing MSDs should also be pursued as well as investigating how many students continue to use loupes in a professional setting post-graduation.
About the Authors
Michelle C. Arnett, RDH, MS, is an adjunct clinical lecturer and a clinical research coordinator in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine; Anne E. Gwozdek, RDH, MA, is a retired clinical assistant professor and director of dental hygiene graduate and degree completion Programs in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine; Sahira Ahmed, RDH, BSDH, is a 2016 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program; Hunter D. Beaubien, RDH, BSDH, is a 2016 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program; Kristen B. Yaw, RDH, BSDH, is a 2016 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program; Iwonka T. Eagle, RDH, BS, MS, is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine; all at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI.
Corresponding author: Michelle C. Arnett, RDH, MS; arnetmic@umich.edu
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