How AI-Powered Ergonomics May Help Save Dental Careers

Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking dentistry by storm, impacting many aspects of the profession including diagnostics, treatment planning, and business operations.¹ One subset of AI, computer vision, is emerging as an innovative approach to improve ergonomics. Adding to dentistry’s AI arsenal, this image-processing technology can support oral health professionals in reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace.

Oral health professionals are at increased risk for MSDs due to the need for static and awkward postures, repetitive motions, and vibrating equipment.² With MSDs affecting an estimated 78% of oral health professionals, effective interventions are critical.² Through computer vision use in ergonomic assessments, dentistry can leverage this technology to respond to its MSD challenge.

To fully understand AI’s impact on ergonomics, the foundations of an ergonomic assessment must be reviewed. Ergonomic assessments involve observing and analyzing the subject’s body mechanics; they are performed to address risk factors for MSDs. Ergonomic professionals facilitate these assessments, which can be conducted on working individuals or for research purposes.^3,4

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* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.