Effect of Handle Design and Material on the Ergonomic Performance of a Dental Sickle Scale

Background: Because musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among dental clinicians, there exists an urgent need to re-visit the design of dental hand instruments, which are considered a primary cause for workrelated disabilities.Objective: To evaluate in 11 hygienists, the effect of 4 different dental scaler handles on muscle work and fatigue related to a standardized scaling task using an SH 6/7 scaler.Results: Overall, a silicone adaptive handle that conforms to the shape of the individual user's hand demonstrated the most favorable ergonomic performance.Conclusion: An adaptive silicone handle can significantly reduce muscle work and fatigue during scaling procedures.