Ana Carolina da Graça Fagundes Freire

Musculoskeletal pain and ergonomic aspects of dentistry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dentists are considered professionals highly vulnerable to occupational problems and such injuries are sometimes caused by adopted postures and repetitive efforts during their work. This study aimed at checking the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and to observe whether the work of dentists acting in both public and private sectors was carried out ergonomically. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study with dentists (n=80). A self-applicable questionnaire was used to check the frequency of musculoskeletal pain and occupational injuries, as well as to record labor activities, practice of physical activity and their frequencies. Professionals were observed while carrying out dental assistance based on recommendations of the document “Adopting a healthy sitting working posture during patient treatment”, which is part of the International Standards Organization standardization 106/SC 6 N 411 from 2006. RESULTS: There has been job-related pain in at least 65.67% of dentists. The number of individuals adopting incorrect and inadequate positions during assistance was high, such as: head rotation (73.13%); spine rotation (47.76%) and legs angle less than 90o (91.04%). Medical leaves related to occupational injuries were found in a greater proportion among public service professionals (64%). CONCLUSION: There has been high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain related to inadequate postures adopted during clinical assistance and to long working hours without pause.

Musculoskeletal disorders and disability in Brazilian Dentists in São Paulo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Musculoskeletal disorders represents one of the major public health problems among workers and the general population, and it is multifactorial in origin. It has attracted the attention of researchers concerned with issues relating to health and work, due to cost and its impact on the quality of life. It causes functional impairment, limitations in activities, decreased quality of life, disability, reduced work productivity and direct medical costs. To measure the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the association between the musculoskeletal disorders and pain disability in dentists in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted with 91dentists in the northwest of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected through interviews, using the Nordic Questionnaire, The Pain Disability Questionnaire and the Numeric Pain Scale were also administered to workers who reported pain. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: Most dentists (90.4%) had musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the neck, upper and lower back. The analysis of the intensity of pain and disability with Pain Disability Questionnaire in symptomatic dentists showed an average pain intensity of 1.96, its intensity was classified as moderate. Mean scores of the Pain Disability Questionnaire total (7.91) and its dimensions functional condition (5.29) and psychosocial condition (2.61) suggest moderate disability in Brazilian dentists. There was moderate t correlation (r = 0.409) between pain intensity and the total score of disability caused by pain. CONCLUSION: Pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders interfere significantly in dentists’ lives. There is significant correlation between pain intensity and disability caused by pain in dental surgeons.