Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Clinical Practice of Dental Hygienists and Dentists, Prevention and Awareness among Italian Professionals: Focus on Enlarging Systems

Abstract

Aim. Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs are a common medical condition among dental hygienists and dentists, making them a common occupational risk for dental professionals. The purpose of the work was to collect information about the dental professions and their habits to highlight what can be good practices to be carried out to prevent any musculoskeletal disorders. Material and methods. To identify habits and problems inherent in the professional activity of dental hygienists and dentists, a questionnaire was formulated on the use of enlarging systems. Results. The questionnaire was completed by 241 dental professionals. As for the use of magnifiers, 72.6% of participants use them: among dental hygienists, 67.8% use magnifiers, among dentists, 80.9% use magnifiers; there is a statistically significant difference. There is no statistically significant difference between professions regarding muscle disorders. Conclusions. For a clearer assessment, it would be appropriate to submit the questionnaire to a wider sample of professionals, to define better the correlation between musculoskeletal disorders, work activity and the type of enlarging systems used.