The Bambach Saddle Stool in dentistry

Musculoskeletal disorders are common in dental practitioners. This work demands high precision and is often performed with the arms unsupported and abducted away from the body. The neck is flexed forward and rotated for long periods of time. This creates high static loads leading to muscle tension in the neck, upper back, and shoulders.

Dental practitioners using traditional seating have a tendency to bend forward from the waist rather than from the hips. The result is stress on the spinal discs and the surrounding soft tissues of the spine. Sitting badly and bending and stretching over patients while using precise hand movements contributes to pain in the low back, arm and hands, as well as headaches.

The design of the Bambach Saddle Seat improves to the way you hold your body when treating patients. The Bambach Saddle Seat lets you stretch, lean over and move around your patient while effortlessly and naturally maintaining your spine's ideal shape, helping to reduce the risk of occupational back pain and related problems. It allows you to get in closer to your patient so you don’t need to lean over and reach as far. You can hold your arms at a more natural angle and height, which in turn reduces the work your neck and shoulders would normally do in supporting them.

• The saddle design of the seat tilts your pelvis into its natural upright position. The wide straddle position of your legs and knees stabilizes your pelvis to allow your spine to hold its natural ‘S’ curves instead of being bent into a slumped ‘C’ shape.
• The chair swivels, not you.
• The high perch body position allows you to "walk" around the treatment room while in your seat. You won’t have to drag your chair, which can strain your lower back.
• You can adjust your working height to allow your arms to work in a more natural position. This relaxes the gripping forces needed to hold your instruments steadily for prolonged periods, and your wrist and finger muscles will experience less stress.
• Your legs help support your back. Your feet are in full contact with the floor to help support you to reduce strain on your back muscles.

Case Reports

Case #1: Oral surgeon with low back pain and sciatica

Before: Dr. T. on a conventional dental stool. Note the hunched position of his shoulders and the outline of his back in a "C" shape.

After: On a Bambach Saddle Seat Dr. T's shoulders are relaxed, his lumbar curve restored, and his head position is improved with greater access to his patient's head from above. In addition, his hands have better access.

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Case #2: Dental assistant with neck pain

Before: D.M. on a conventional flat dental stool. Her pelvis is rolled back, collapsing her spine. Her head and neck are strained to see her work. Her right shoulder is raised and statically held to work suction.

After: D.M. in a relaxed and natural posture with her spinal curves restored. Her pelvis is rotated to a natural upright position allowing her spine, head, neck and shoulders to work without postural stress.

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Case #3: Dentist with low back pain

Before: Dr. S. on her conventional flat dental stool. Note the backward rotation of the pelvis and collapsing of her spine, causing postural stress. Her abdomen is inactive, promoting the protrusion of her head.

After: Dr. S. on the Bambach Saddle Seat. Lumbar lordosis is restored with an upright pelvic position. Shoulders, head and neck are relaxed. Arms and hands are able to work from an improved functional position.

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Case #4: Dental assistant with thoracic pain

Before: F.B. on a conventional dental stool. Her back is in a 'C' position in spite of her high level of fitness. Her feet must grip the foot ring on the stool in an awkward position in order to hold a stable posture on the raised seat. Her pelvis is tilted back.

After: F.B. on a Bambach Saddle Seat. Her lumbar spine in its natural lordosis. Her pelvis is now upright and stable, with her feet in plantar contact for normal lower limb tone and balance. Her legs are abducted for closer access to the patient.

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Articles

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some of these articles. You can download a free copy from the Adobe Website.

• Mind your backs now
  Watson, Jerry. Article on the benefits of the Bambach Saddle Seat for dentists. UK: Dentistry Monthly, September 1996. (120K)
• Are You Sitting Well?
  Ronvig, Boris. Article on the benefits of the Bambach Saddle Seat for dentists. Denmark: Dental Advisen, March 1996 (translation). (94K)
• Will back pain shorten your career as a dentist?
  Brochure from Bambach Saddle Seat Pty Ltd. on the benefits of the Bambach Saddle Seat for dentists. (224K)

References

Burke FJ, Main JR, Freeman R. The practice of dentistry; an assessment of reasons for premature retirement. Br Dent J 1997 Apr 12; 182 (7): 250-4