Perception of health status, emotional and musculoskeletal symptoms in dental surgeons

Abstract

Introduction: The dentistry presents important risk factors for the development of occupational diseases. Objective: To evaluate dentists’ perception of their health status, characteristics of their emotional and musculoskeletal symptoms, actions taken, and changes made in the workplace by them in order to reduce these symptoms. Methods: A symptoms questionnaire was applied in 43 dentists, with mean age of 36.2 (±26.87). Results: The data indicated that 58.1% of participants believed themselves to be in good health, while 25.6% considered their health as fair, and 16.3% as excellent. Feeling of fatigue, impatience, mood swings, irritability and restlessness were prevalent. The regions with the highest number of musculoskeletal symptoms were lower back, shoulder, dorsal neck and arm. Among the types of symptoms, the pain had high prevalence, followed by tiredness, fatigue and burning. Conclusion: We indicate the need for interventions to this profession, especially with emphasis on prevention in order to reduce the impact of these injuries.