Musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals

Abstract

ntroduction. Dental professionals often develop musculoskeletal disorders, which are related to sub-optimal work-environment ergonomics that might be responsible for improper sitting postures and movements causing unnecessary musculoskeletal loading, discomfort, and fatigue. Occupational diseases have not only physical, psychological, and social consequences, but also economic and security impacts when they reach a level of severity that directly affects work capacity, causing absences and premature retirement. Aim of study. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals. Materials and methods. A self-developed questionnaire was distributed to 82 dental workers to collect information about musculoskeletal disorders symptoms and relevant factors. Their working posture was studied through the ergonomic method REBA. Results. The research sample was formed by 66.7% general dentistry and 33.3% dental surgery. From the questioned workers, 95.12% complained about at least one specific MSDs symptom and 4.87% of them complained about all the symptoms listed in the questionnaire (upper limb, throat, back and legs, general fatigue). Muscle and joint pain manifestations in hands present 70.70% of the dental workers, 68.30% - in the neck, 58.50% - in the shoulders. Four out of ten dentists suffered pain in the neck and shoulder region for more than a year, and every second of them suffers from hand pain for several years. Fortunately, most dental professionals characterize their pain as an intermittent one and only two out of ten as a permanent but bearable one. According to the ergonomic REBA method, 7.30% of staff and are at medium risk of MSDs and their workplace requires changes, 41.50% - a high level of MSDs risk and the workplace design needs to be adapted to the worker as soon as possible, and 51.2% of those observed are at a very high risk, in these cases the improvement of the design of the workplace and the furniture/equipment must be carried out urgently. Conclusions. The physical load, including vicious posture, among dentists puts them at risk for the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. An ergonomic intervention is needed to decrease the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental professionals.