Veterinary dentistry article puts ergonomics at center stage: full analysis
A new peer-reviewed continuing education article in Today’s Veterinary Nurse is putting workplace ergonomics back in focus for veterinary dentistry teams. Published June 1, 2026, “Ergonomics in Veterinary Dentistry: Maintaining Physical Health” argues that veterinary dental professionals should treat posture, workspace setup, instrument handling, hearing protection, and recovery time as essential parts of clinical practice if they want to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort and career-limiting injuries. The article was written by Mary L. Berg, BS, RVT, LATG, VTS (Dentistry), FVTE, a longtime technician specialist and educator in veterinary dentistry. (todaysveterinarynurse.com)
The message builds on concerns that have been circulating in veterinary medicine for years. A 2002 review in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry warned that veterinary dentistry, as a growing specialty, needed to address poor posture and ergonomic design before work-related injuries became entrenched. More recently, a 2023 narrative review in Applied Ergonomics found that veterinarians face high physical workloads and noted that several studies have reported musculoskeletal pain or discomfort in 60% to 90% of veterinarians over a 12-month period. (journals.sagepub.com)
Berg’s article adds profession-specific detail for dental teams. It cites a 2022 Ohio State University survey of 56 veterinarians and 38 veterinary nurses or technicians, in which 60% reported musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck, lower back, legs, and feet, and more than 85% said work activities intensified discomfort in at least one region. The article also notes that observed tasks were rated high or very high risk for musculoskeletal disorders in 9% of veterinarians’ work and 43% of veterinary nurses’ or technicians’ work. Berg frames those findings as a call to rethink routine dental workflow, from how clinicians position themselves around the patient to where monitors, instruments, and supplies are placed. (todaysveterinarynurse.com)
The operational recommendations are practical rather than theoretical. The article says sitting can reduce head and neck angulation and support a modified pen grasp for delicate instrument work, but warns that leaning into the patient and repetitive motions can still drive spinal strain. It also notes that standing can reduce spinal pressure, though it may increase fatigue, making regular posture changes important. Among the tools highlighted are adjustable saddle chairs, adjustable tables, sit-stand workstations for radiograph review and recordkeeping, antifatigue mats, and surgical loupes, which the article says can help reduce slouching, eye strain, and upper back and neck stress. Hearing protection is also included, reflecting the noise exposure that can come with ultrasonic equipment. (todaysveterinarynurse.com)
Industry guidance broadly supports that direction. AAHA’s dental care recommendations say practitioners and assistants should demonstrate healthy ergonomic practices whenever possible, specifically limiting excessive reaching, bending, and twisting, and arranging instruments and supplies so they are easy to grasp at working height. dvm360’s coverage of a Fetch conference session by Benita Altier, LVT, VTS (Dentistry), echoed a similar point: ergonomics in veterinary practice is often overlooked, even though repetitive small movements and awkward postures can shorten careers if teams don’t actively redesign their workflow. (aaha.org)
Why it matters: Veterinary dentistry is often discussed through the lens of patient oral health, anesthesia, imaging, and procedural quality. This article shifts attention to the people delivering that care. For hospitals trying to retain skilled veterinary nurses, technicians, and dentists, ergonomics is becoming a workforce issue as much as a safety issue. If discomfort is common, and if a meaningful share of technician tasks already fall into high-risk ergonomic categories, then investments in chairs, workstation layout, floor support, magnification, and protected break time may have downstream effects on productivity, burnout, and staff longevity. That’s especially relevant in dentistry, where repetitive fine-motor work and static postures are built into the day. (todaysveterinarynurse.com)
There’s also a patient-care angle. AAHA’s guidance links safe dental procedure setup with both patient positioning and team safety, reinforcing that efficient, well-organized workspaces can support safer anesthetized dentistry. In practice, better ergonomics may help teams maintain precision during charting, radiography, scaling, and extractions, particularly during longer procedures or high caseload days. That makes this less of a wellness sidebar and more of a practice systems conversation. (aaha.org)
What to watch: The next question is whether ergonomic principles stay in CE content or start showing up more visibly in equipment purchasing, workflow redesign, and staff training, particularly as practices look for concrete ways to reduce injury risk and improve retention in dental services. (todaysveterinarynurse.com)