Celebrate Dental Hygiene Week With Ergonomic Savings Happy National Dental Hygienist's Week! It’s the perfect time to treat yourself (and your posture!) to ergonomic essentials that make clinical life easier. In my shop , I’ve put together an exclusive sale running all month long while supplies last. You’ll save $15 off orders of $100 , $25 off $200 , and $40 off $300 or more —plus special discounts on some of my favorite products. Here are the top picks I recommend adding to

If you’ve ever struggled to position an elderly patient, you’re not alone. Many of these patients present with significant forward head posture and kyphosis (that “hunched” upper back) —and it completely changes how we need to approach positioning. And here’s the reality: This is only going to become more common. There are over 70 million Baby Boomers in the U.S. , and as this population continues to age, we’re going to see more patients with mobility limitations, spinal chan

If you’ve ever felt like your patient “just won’t lean back,” it’s usually not them—it’s the setup. Proper patient positioning is everything when it comes to protecting your posture and  keeping your patient comfortable. Here’s exactly how I walk through it in practice (see the end for a video too): Step 1: Support the Head First Before you even recline your patient, attach a cushion to the headrest. The human head weighs about 10–13 pounds , and if it’s not supported, the n

If you’re ending your day with a sore neck, tight shoulders, or aching wrists after seeing patients… you’re not alone. But here’s the part most people don’t realize: Even if you think  your posture is good… even if you’ve invested in better equipment… you can still end your day in pain. Because the issue isn’t just how  you’re working. It’s how long you’re staying still. Read on for some quick tips, videos, and my free posture mini-course with my fave stretches! The Real Reas

Seperating The Real From The Hype: There's a lot of fantastic, convincing marketing out there, and sometimes, it's hard to know what works and what doesn't. Here are the top picks I recommend from what I use daily: 1. Patient Positioning Cushions These cushion s keep your patients comfortable while helping you get them into the ideal ergonomic position . When patients are supported correctly, you can work without straining your neck, shoulders, or back. Curious which sizes ar

Help your positioning with cushions If you work in dentistry, you’ve definitely had this patient. You know the one. The patient who walks in, sits down, and says something like, “I can’t lean back.” As a dental hygienist and ergonomics specialist, this is one of the most common positioning challenges I see clinicians struggle with. Proper patient positioning isn’t just about access—it’s about protecting your neck, shoulders, and back  so you can stay in this profession long-t

As dental professionals, our hands do almost everything. Scaling, polishing, retracting, suctioning, charting, and computer work all require repetitive gripping and fine motor control. Over time, that constant pinch force can add up—leading to fatigue, wrist pain, numbness, and even conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. What many clinicians don’t realize is that excessive strain in the hands doesn’t stay isolated there. It can travel up the kinetic chain, contributing to te

If you’re a dental clinician struggling with nagging neck tension or mid-back pain, there’s a good chance your upper traps are doing way too much work. In dentistry, we live in slight forward flexion. Our upper trapezius muscles are often overworked, tight, and dominant — which is exactly why we don’t  want to keep hammering them in the gym with shrugged shoulders and poorly executed pulling exercises. Instead, we need to strengthen the mid and lower trapezius — the muscles t

How many hours do you sit on your dental stool? If we add it all up, we are spending hundreds of hours on our stools after just a few months. Are you sitting correctly? Do you have the stool adjusted to fit you? If not, you could be setting yourself up for pain, fatigue, discomfort, or even injury over time. If you’re anything like how I used to be, you may take whatever stool the office has and try and make it work. I used to think all stools were the same, but it wasn’t unt

I am 43 years old, and I've never had an eye exam that resulted in anything less than 20/20 vision. Er, I mean eyesight. Up until recently, I never knew there was a difference between "eyesight" and "vision." Did you know they are NOT the same? The only reason I found out is when I started having extreme vertigo while driving on the freeway. Just imagine, suddenly overnight, having the feeling of severe anxiety, tunnel vision, and severely disorienting vertigo while driving a

Rear delivery units are common and can be great—when you have an assistant. But when you're working solo without proper technique training? They can be a nightmare for ergonomics. These setups are designed for four-handed dentistry, which means they don’t always support the best posture or workflow for clinicians working alone. If you’re constantly twisting, reaching, or feeling the strain of working with a rear delivery unit on your own, don’t worry—there are ways to make it

If you work in dentistry, you already know the struggle. You open the breakroom… and it’s donuts, cookies, leftover pizza, or nothing at all. I've been there and those are hard to resist when you're hangry! While those treats are fun, they don’t exactly support energy, focus, or muscle health —especially when we’re on our feet, gripping instruments, and trying to protect our musculoskeletal system all day long. That’s why I love having high-protein, low-calorie snacks  on han

As dental clinicians, our bodies are our most important tools. We ask a lot of them—long hours, static postures, fine motor control, and repetitive movements that challenge our musculoskeletal system every single day. One of the most overlooked ways to support that system? Starting the day with enough protein. (see my video on my fave morning smoothie below) Protein isn’t just for athletes or bodybuilders. It’s essential for maintaining muscle mass, supporting joint stability

Celebrate The Holidays With Ergonomic Savings The holidays are here, and it’s the perfect time to treat yourself (and your posture!) to ergonomic essentials that make clinical life easier. In my shop, I’ve put together an exclusive sale running through December while supplies last. You’ll save $15 off orders of $100 , $25 off $200 , and $40 off $300 or more —plus special discounts on some of my favorite products. Here are the top picks I recommend adding to your cart this Oct

Awkward Postures Dental clinicians spend hours in static, awkward postures that overload the neck, shoulders, and forearms. Over time, these repeated positions increase intramuscular pressure, reduce blood flow, and contribute to pain, fatigue, and long-term musculoskeletal disorders. That’s why incorporating simple, targeted stretching into your day is one of the most effective ways to protect your body and improve your ergonomic health. Below are the top two stretches for d

Working in dentistry places significant strain on your body, and over time these small, repetitive habits add up. In this week’s episode of Straight Up With Steph , I highlight the top ergonomic mistakes dental clinicians make —and simple, practical ways to correct them so you can feel better and work with less pain. Breaking Neutral Posture Forward head posture and the classic “chicken wing” arm position are two of the biggest contributors to neck, shoulder, and upper-back

Celebrate Black Friday With Ergonomic Savings It's Black Friday and the holiday season, and it’s the perfect time to treat yourself (and your posture!) to ergonomic essentials that make clinical life easier. In my shop, I’ve put together an exclusive sale running 11/26/25-12/1/2025 while supplies last. 🌟You’ll save $15 off orders of $100 , $25 off $200 , and $40 off $300 or more —plus special discounts on some of my favorite products. Here are the top picks I recommend addin

If you’ve ever ended a long day in the op with an aching neck, sore shoulders, or tingling hands, you’re not alone. Most dental professionals accept this pain as “just part of the job” — but it doesn’t have to be. The truth is, discomfort and burnout in dentistry usually start with how  we position ourselves and our patients. Over time, poor posture and repetitive strain can lead to chronic musculoskeletal issues that shorten careers and make every day in the operatory feel h

If you had to add up the hours you’ve spent explaining X-rays or treatment plans to patients who just aren’t getting it … how much time would that be? Oh my gosh, I don't even want to know what mine would be. I can always tell when their eyes start glazing over... I know you've been there too— pointing at the screen, trying different words, drawing lines with your mouse or on a piece of paper — and watching the patient’s eyes glaze over. It’s deflating. Not only does it make

If you’ve ever caught yourself twisting or leaning during patient care and felt that familiar ache in your neck or shoulders, you’re not alone. Our positioning when seeing patients can make or break our musculoskeletal health — and the clock positions we work from matter more than most clinicians realize (check the end for a video and more resources). When possible, aim to do the majority of your work from behind the patient — the 11 to 1 o’clock position . This area allows f