Major Stress Symptoms in Dentists at a Social Security Institution in Guadalajara, Mexico

Abstract

During dental practice, the professional finds him or herself exposed to stress and to diverse conditions posing a mental or physical health risk. The purpose of this study was to identify the most frequent symptoms of chronic stress in dentists. All dentists (87) that worked during the year 2011 at a Social Security institution were surveyed using the Stress Symptom Inventory (SSI) to record both physical and psychological symptoms. The results showed that the perception of physical symptoms, such as strong heartbeats, dry mouth, fatigue, headaches, frequent urge to urinate, neck and shoulder pain as well as the psychological symptomatology of anxiety, urge to eat at all times, rage attacks, insomnia, accident proneness and impaired concentration were factors of high-level chronic stress in dentists working at the Social Security institution. Timely identification of chronic stress in dentists may favor the implementation of timely prevention programs for their healthcare and work security.