Ergonomic Interventions in the Dental Setups and Their Role in Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders among Dentists: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Dentists are susceptible to work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to the extensive hand dexterity and endurance required for performing various dental procedures. This systematic review will evaluate the randomized controlled trials that have implemented physical and cognitive ergonomic interventions in a population of dentists to prevent WMSDs. The research question was formulated by using the population-intervention-comparison-outcome format. Relevant articles were identified from various databases, such as PubMed, PubMed Central, and ScienceDirect. Two reviewers analyzed the study characteristics and conducted the final analysis of the five selected studies. The quality of the included studies was assessed independently by both authors using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. The risk of bias was assessed using RevMan software 5.4.1. In this review, five randomized controlled trials were included. The two reviewers demonstrated good agreement (κ = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.821, p < 0.005) during the screening stage and very good agreement (κ = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.65-1.000, p < 0.005) during the eligibility stage. Studies incorporating physical and cognitive ergonomic interventions demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Cognitive interventions, when introduced early in a dentist's career, can raise awareness and guide them on the dos and don'ts of comfortable ergonomics while achieving patient-friendly treatment.