Musculoskeletal disorders among dental hygienist and students of dental hygiene

Abstract

Two hundred and five women participated in the study: 85 experienced dental hygienists, 17 dental hygiene students and 103 students in a non-clinical track (control group). MSD reports were the most common in the neck (60%), upper back (52%) and lower back (61%). This tendency was seen across all three groups. Hygiene students differed significantly from the control group in terms of number of body areas with MSD and for pain intensity. By contrast, no significant differences were found between dental hygienists and hygiene students, CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that dental hygienists and students are at high risk of developing MSD. The high prevalence of MSD among hygiene students underscores the need to commence intervention prior to the initiation of fieldwork.