Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in Caxias do Sul’s dentists

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders which affect Caxias do Sul’s dentists, correlating the significant findings. Materials and Methods: Observational, transversal and descriptive study in which a semi-structured questionnaire survey was carried out, containing social-demographic questions, as well as clinical and labor ones (sex, age, position adopted at work, a day’s work, time of performance and corporeal region), prepared on the basis of questionnaires used in other researches. The data was analyzed at the SSPS 11.0 program and, in order to check the association between the symptoms and the variables of the study, the chi-square test was used, with a significance of 5%. Results: The survey was carried out among 71 dentists, 46 men and 25 women, being in average 36 years old. The results show high prevalence (98,6%) of musculoskeletal disorders in this professionals, whose most affected areas were: the cervical spine (77,5%), the lumbar spine (73,3%) and the shoulders (69%). The relation between musculoskeletal disorders and concomitant sympton was statistically significant for the cervical column (p=0,014), in the elbows (p=0,002), in the forearms (p=0,002) and in the fists/hands/fingers (p=0,015). The possible associations between musculoskeletal disorders and demographic, clinical and labour variables were verified. Conclusions: The conclusion is that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in such professionals was high and it is probably associated with the characteristics of the professional practice of Dentistry.