CDA Essentials 2017 • Volume 4 • Issue 6

S upporting Y our P ractice • Frequently Change Your Body Position – Whenever possible, try to break up prolonged periods of sitting or standing by rotating work tasks or taking short breaks. • Strengthen Your Back – Consult your doctor or look online for exercises you can do at home. • Use Efficient Lighting – Even, shadow-free, colour- corrected illumination concentrated on the operating field, helps reduce excessive movement. • Schedule Wisely – Alternate routine with challenging cases throughout the day and provide buffer periods that accommodate emergency patients or extra time for difficult procedures or patients. You can find a full list of recommendations in the article, Back Care for Dentists and Surgeons on spineuniverse.com . Get Your Sleep Sleep is not a luxury, but an absolute necessity. It affects your productivity, mental health and your immune system. 5 Maximize your sleep with these tips: • Soft blue light may hinder your sleep—turn off TVs, computers, and other blue-light sources well before retiring. • Avoid naps during the day. • Reduce caffeine. • Dim your lights at least 2 hours before bedtime. • Go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time every day, even on weekends. Deal With Stress Many dentists find themselves working long hours, doing meticulous work in an enclosed environment, and having to deal with the challenge of running a business. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help reduce stress and increase your ability to cope 6 : • Get away for a while — Read a book, watch a movie, play a game, listen to music, or go on vacation. Leave yourself some time that’s just for you. • Hone your time management skills — Do essential tasks and prioritize the others. • Use relaxation techniques — Soothing music, yoga, meditation, or massage. CDSPI isanot-for-profitorganizationwhosemission isto provideafullrangeoffinancialsolutionsthatmeettheuniqueneeds oftheCanadiandentalcommunitythroughouttheir lives.Ourmembers includetheCDAandparticipatingprovincialandterritorialdentalassociations. CDSPI DisabilityGuard™ Insurance Despite their best efforts, some dentists are forced to stop practising for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, personal expenses continue, so it’s wise to have disability insurance to help protect your lifestyle. CDSPI’s new DisabilityGuard™ Insurance is a full-featured, flexible plan that was created exclusively for dentists. Please call CDSPI at 1-800-561-9401 or visit disabilityguard. cdspi.com to learn about the many advantages of DisabilityGuard™ Insurance. Members’ Assistance Program * Your Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) can help with stress. MAP provides confidential guidance to dentists when personal situations are affecting their family life, work, or general well-being. Short-term counselling, advice, and information are provided by experienced professionals such as psychologists and social workers. For information, contact MAP at 1-844-578-4040 or visit workhealthlife.com . DisabilityGuard™ Insurance is underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife), PO Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8. DisabilityGuard TM is a trademark of CDSPI. * MAP is operated by Shepell, the largest Canadian-based Employee and Family Assistance provider in the country. Available services vary by region. Use of MAP services is completely confidential within the limits of the law. • Talk with others — Speak with friends, professional counsellors, support groups, or relatives about what is bothering you. • Give in occasionally — Avoid insignificant quarrels. Beware of Substance Abuse Drug and alcohol abuse can have a profoundly negative influence on your practice as well as your social and physical well-being. It can lead to problems among family and friends, criminal charges, medical complications, serious accidents, and even death. If you have a problem, don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor, a family member or friend you trust, or contact our Members’ Assistance Program (MAP). Find other support and rehabilitation services at canadadrugrehab.ca . a References 1.TheCanadianHeartandStrokeFoundation ,www.heartandstroke.ca 2.NutritionandPhysicalActivityGuidelines,AmericanCancerSociety 3.Center forDiseaseControl&Prevention,“HealthEffectsofCigaretteSmoking,”2016 4.“Ergonomics inDentistry,” InternationalJournalofClinicalPediatricDentistry(2014);“Musculoskeletal Disordersandthe ImpactsontheDentalProfession,”cited inoralhealthMagazine,(2009) 5.AGuidetoBetterSleep ,www.workhealthlife.com 6.“InYourFace:FacingtheRealitiesofStress inDentistry,”byJenButler .www.dentaltown.com ,(2013) 31 Issue 8 | 2017 |