According to NIOSH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has reported a couple of musculoskeletal risks. Unsurprisingly, one of them involving the neck and shoulder and the other involving the wrist. Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants used to stand to perform dentistry, although operatory setups have improved and dental procedures have been taught sitting so that dental personnel can sit with ergonomic improvements. However, it is still common for some dental personnel to stand as to have better visual and physical access and better leverage. There are few studies on this matter.How to Treat and Prevent Shoulder Injuries: Stretch, Stabilize, Strengthen!
According to the School of Health Sciences at the Faculty of Health at the University of Newcastle in Australia, their literature suggests that the prevalence of general musculoskeletal pain ranges between 64% and 93%. The most prevalent regions for pain in dentists have been shown to be the back (36.3-60.1%) and neck (19.8-85%), while the hand and wrist regions were the most prevalent regions for dental hygienists (60-69.5%). The Department of Public Health at the Technological Educational Institute of Athens reported a bit less of the dentists with musculoskeletal complaints. The Athens research states that 62% of dentists reported at least one musculoskeletal complaint, 30% chronic complaints, 16% had spells of absence and, 32% sought medical care.
In two departments at the Shiraz University of Medical Science, The Department of Neurology and the Department of Periodontology at the School of Dentistry found that 17.5% of participants were diagnosed to have decreased nerve conduction velocity while 10% had reported clinical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Both dominant and non-dominant hands were involved. Within cases who were diagnosed as having median nerve neuropathy, 87.5% worked more than 20 hours per week. 57% had 17-23 years of dental practice experience and 14.2% of cases had10-16 years of practice in dentistry.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, among dental practitioners is the repeated high pinch force applied during periodontal scaling. There seems to be a reduction in wrist problems with practitioners who have been scaling for years, possibly indicating that new dental practitioners use a higher level of force.
According to the ADA, American Dental Society, Clinical dentistry is physically demanding in some very specific ways. Backs, necks, shoulders, wrists and hands that for some reason are vulnerable to injury may be challenged by a combination of position, repetitive motion, stress, and even leisure activities.
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