Injury prevention for the practice of dentistry.

There is an abundance of dental professionals with work-related pain and dysfunction. Dentistry poses a huge challenge because of the ergonomics of dental work. The biggest risk factors are the awkward prolonged seated postures with no back support and the limited range of motion and isometric muscle contraction created by working in a confined area, namely the mouth. The following manuscript offers exercises that constitute a preventive program to target the typical problem areas of the dental professional--the neck, lower back and wrist/hand.