Tip #143 – Protecting our career through posture with Stephanie Botts

The Dental Head Start Podcast

Hosted by Christina Potestas @christina_oralhealth

I bring to you in this episode a great chat I had with Stephanie Botts @steph.polishedposture – For those unlucky ones that have yet to come across her online, Stephanie is a registered dental hygienist and specialist in office ergonomics sharing some really important advice around our posture and wellbeing as dental professionals. Based in Denver, Colorado, Stephanie has gained over 40 thousand followers on social media and continues to spread her message via virtual assessments and her new podcast Straight up with Steph. We spoke about how dental school is an effective time to start establishing good posture habits to make a huge impact in preventing pain and avoiding long-term health issues. She shared so many good bite sized tips that are easily digestible to start implementing today and emphasises its never too late. Stephanie says “this is the only body we’ve got” so I hope this episode helps you on your way to protecting your career through posture.

Key moments

0:00 – 3:30 – Stephanie’s journey into dentistry and her interest in ergonomics

3:30 – 9:00 – The importance of establishing good posture habits early in dental school

9:00 – 12:30 Common posture mistakes made by dental students and professionals, such as poor patient positioning and lack of indirect vision

12:30 – 15:00 Ideal neutral posture for the head, arms, and shoulders

15:00 – 18:00 Ergonomic loops as a tool to improve neutral head position

18:00 – 21:30 Exercises and micro breaks to strengthen muscles and prevent fatigue

21:30 – 26:00 Preventing and addressing dental injuries through ergonomics

26:00 – 30:00 Ergonomic equipment and tools that dental practices should provide, and what clinicians can invest in themselves

30:00 – 32:00 The cervical cushion as a tool to improve patient comfort and positioning

32:00 – 37:00 Resources and certification options for learning more about dental ergonomics

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Stephanie Botts

Stephanie has been a clinical dental hygienist for 15 years, and currently practices in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about her role in her patients’ health and well-being.

Like many dental professionals, Stephanie has noticed increasing pain over the years due to the repetitive motions under a static position that the practice of dental hygiene requires. She began to ask herself, “What will my body feel like 10 years from now? Or 20? Will I be able to enjoy my retirement or will I be in chronic pain due to my career?”
These questions motivated her to learn about proper ergonomics and different equipment choices that can allow for pain free practice.

Stephanie now helps others in her field with customized ergonomic assessments and coaching. She knows the realities of daily practice in a dental office, the unique challenges we face, and can help you not only improve the quality of your practice, but the quality of your life.

Instagram @steph.polishedposture

Podcast: Straight up with Steph

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