The Hidden Habits Causing Your Pain: Reaching & Twisting in Dentistry

Have you ever wondered why so many dental clinicians end up dealing with pain or injury? It’s rarely one big moment—it’s the small things we do all day, every day. Think of it as “death by a thousand cuts”… but ergonomic.

Two of the biggest culprits I see during ergonomic assessments? Reaching and twisting.

When I observe clinicians, I often see them reach or twist hundreds of times in just a short window.

Now zoom out—what does that look like over the course of a full day… or a year in practice? It adds up quickly, and your body keeps the score.

But here’s the part most people overlook:

👉 These habits aren’t just hard on your body—they’re also wasting your time and energy.

Let’s break it down with some great solutions and a video for you:

Reaching: Small Fix, Big Impact

Reaching is unavoidable in dentistry—but how you reach matters.

What we want to avoid:

• Fully extending your arm

• Engaging your shoulder and elbow repeatedly

• Constantly reaching outside your “comfort zone”

Instead, aim for a compact, controlled reach.

Quick fix: Set up your operatory so your most-used items (mirror, suction, air/water, instruments) are within easy reach—and move them with you as you reposition around the patient. A few inches closer can make a huge difference over time.

Twisting: The Silent Strain

Twisting often shows up when you’re reaching across your body—grabbing suction from the opposite side or instruments placed just out of alignment.

Here’s a simple check:👉 Ask yourself, “Am I squared up?”

Your head, shoulders, hips, legs, and feet should all be facing the same direction. If they’re not—you’re twisting.

Cross-body reaching = reaching and twisting (double the strain). I see this often with clinicians working in rear-delivery units.

A great way to eliminate this? Implement techniques like hand-passing (see video below) or repositioning your setup so everything stays in front of you—not across you.

Here's a quick video demonstrating my "hand-pass" technique which is crucial (especially for rear-delivery units):

Why This Matters

Reaching and twisting don’t just increase your risk for injury—they slow you down. Every unnecessary movement costs you time, energy, and focus.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s awareness. Because when you start improving the small habits, you create massive long-term change in how your body feels.

If you’re ready to take this a step further,👉 check out my free posture mini course, where I break down simple posture hacks and teach my two favorite microbreak stretches you can do right in the operatory.

Because in dentistry, it’s not just about working harder—it’s about working smarter.