Development of the efficient turbine grip

Introduction: Dentists encounter awkward wrist postures, repetitive hand motions, and pinch forces when using dental instruments. General dentists use turbines most frequently in their practice, and it is not possible to change the diameter, weigh and texture, as in the case with hand scalers. Ergonomically designed dental instruments with proper finger rest may help reduce the excessive muscle load. The purpose of this study was to determine whether using a turbine with an additional grip could reduce muscle activity and improve the dental work. Material and method: Four designed grips were made. The shape of each cross section was a small circle, a large circle, a triangle, and a hexagon. Thirty-one students and twenty-nine dentists performed drilling by turbines with or without grips. After experimentation, all participants completed questionnaires to indicate their preference of grip. Surface bipolar electromyography (EMG) recordings were used to measure muscle activity during the dental drilling task by turbines with or without grips. Results: According to the findings of the questionnaires, ninety percent of the students and seventy-six percent of the dentists preferred turbines with any kinds of grips. Of those, eighty-six percent of dentists and students felt they tended to slip less often than those without grips, while around eighty percent of dentists and students felt no difference in weight, when they used the turbine with a preferable grip. In addition, eighty-six percent of dentists and forty-seven percent of students felt no difference in fatigability. From the EMG measures, there were no significant differences between the non-grip and the other grips. We supposed that dentists could accept the grips even though they have already been accustomed to using ordinary turbines. Conclusion: Turbines with proper shape, size and texture of grip will improve our productivity, and also improve the students' technique.