What if you finally reach the peak of your career—only to have your body shut it down?
Why are so many dentists forced to cancel clinics, not because of burnout or skill, but because of crippling back pain?
And what if this “expected hazard of dentistry” didn’t actually have to be inevitable?
In this episode, Dr. Aniko Ball joins Jaz to challenge the long-held belief that chronic pain is just part of being a dentist. As an expert in dental ergonomics and the Alexander Technique, she reveals why so many clinicians are unknowingly damaging their bodies every single day—and how simple, overlooked changes can completely transform career longevity.
The mission for this episode was simple: deliver five genuinely life-changing, immediately actionable tips to protect your neck, back, and future. No fluff. No theory for theory’s sake. Just practical changes you can implement straight away—starting from your very next clinic session.
If your health matters to you as much as your dentistry, this is an unmissable episode.
Protrusive Dental Pearl: Cut toxic noise, protect time for your health, and optimize the small habits you repeat daily. You only rotate ~10–13 meals—upgrade those, move a little more, sleep a little better. Small, consistent upgrades compound into an unrecognisable year.
Key Takeaways:
Back pain in dentistry is not inevitable—it is largely the result of cumulative postural habits.
Most dental pain comes from holding positions the body was never designed to hold, not from single traumatic events.
Lifting the elbow or shoulder for prolonged periods activates movement muscles, guaranteeing shoulder and upper back pain.
A finger rest must be used on the non-dominant hand holding the mirror, not just the dominant hand.
Hovering the mirror is equivalent to holding the arm raised against gravity.
The spine is not designed for sustained bending or twisting, even slightly.
Staying vertical is critical—move the patient and the chair, not your spine.
Traditional loupes often force neck flexion; refractive loupes or microscopes allow upright posture and straight-ahead vision.
Stool height matters: hips slightly higher than knees, feet flat, heels fully released into the floor.
If leg weight isn’t given to the floor, the lower back absorbs the load instead.
Habits outside the clinic—especially looking down at a mobile phone—train the same harmful postural patterns used in dentistry.
Postural change feels strange at first because bad habits feel comfortable, even when they are damaging.
Real change requires habit interruption, repetition, and support over several weeks.
Your body is your most important instrument—protecting it protects your career.
Highlights:
00:00 Teaser
00:52 Introduction
03:36 Pearl – Optimizing Small Habits
07:06 Interview with Dr. Aniko Ball: Her Journey on Ergonomics and Dentistry
10:00 Challenging Misconceptions in Dentistry
17:42 Common Mistakes and Practical Tips for Better Posture
28:29 Importance of Refractive Loupes and Microscopes
29:53 Midroll
33:14 Importance of Refractive Loupes and Microscopes
34:18 Communicating with Patients for Better Ergonomics
38:06 The Science of Habit Change and Neuromuscular Training
42:40 Optimizing Dental Stool Height for Better Ergonomics
47:14 The Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on Posture
50:53 Key Posture and Ergonomic Takeaways
53:35 Full-Day Ergonomics Workshop
59:13 Outro
🚨 This episode is the introduction. The real transformation happens in the room.
📍 Join Dr. Aniko Ball for a full-day, full-demonstration workshop and learn how to make your body—and your back—unbreakable.
This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance.
This episode meets GDC Outcomes C.
AGD Subject Code: 130 ELECTIVES
Aim: To help dentists reduce cumulative musculoskeletal trauma by understanding how posture, habits, and equipment choices directly affect spinal, shoulder, and long-term career health.
Dentists will be able to –
Identify common postural habits in dentistry that lead to cumulative trauma and chronic pain.
Apply practical ergonomic principles to reduce strain on the spine, shoulders, hips, and neck.
Modify daily habits, including non-clinical activities, to support long-term musculoskeletal health.
