Musculoskeletal disorders and disability in Brazilian Dentists in São Paulo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Musculoskeletal disorders represents one of the major public health problems among workers and the general population, and it is multifactorial in origin. It has attracted the attention of researchers concerned with issues relating to health and work, due to cost and its impact on the quality of life. It causes functional impairment, limitations in activities, decreased quality of life, disability, reduced work productivity and direct medical costs. To measure the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the association between the musculoskeletal disorders and pain disability in dentists in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted with 91dentists in the northwest of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected through interviews, using the Nordic Questionnaire, The Pain Disability Questionnaire and the Numeric Pain Scale were also administered to workers who reported pain. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: Most dentists (90.4%) had musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the neck, upper and lower back. The analysis of the intensity of pain and disability with Pain Disability Questionnaire in symptomatic dentists showed an average pain intensity of 1.96, its intensity was classified as moderate. Mean scores of the Pain Disability Questionnaire total (7.91) and its dimensions functional condition (5.29) and psychosocial condition (2.61) suggest moderate disability in Brazilian dentists. There was moderate t correlation (r = 0.409) between pain intensity and the total score of disability caused by pain. CONCLUSION: Pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders interfere significantly in dentists’ lives. There is significant correlation between pain intensity and disability caused by pain in dental surgeons.