title: Dental practice and musculoskeletal disorders association: a look at the evidence.
abstract: Disorders localized to the musculoskeletal system are a common problem among dental personnel. This study has the aim of surveying epidemiological studies reporting positive associations between dental practice and musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs). The focus was to evaluate the size of reported risk increase and the extent to what alternative causal explanations were considered. Reports with significant links (p value <.05) were systematically selected from 2 electronic databases. Twenty-five studies were identified. Risk measures were reported in 8 studies, and all of them presented weak associations. The impact of at least 1 competing explanations was analyzed in 32% of studies, but adjustment was considered not adequate in half of them. The evidence on dentistry as a profession with potential risk for development of MSKDs remains questionable. Further research is needed to more carefully elucidate the risk and the impact of MSKDs in this particular occupational group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Social Dentistry, Araçatuba School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Artênio José Isper
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Garbin
authors.forename: Cléa Adas Saliba
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Garbin
authors.forename: Suzely Adas Saliba
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moimaz
authors.forename: Renato Costa Franco
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Baldan
authors.forename: Líviã Guimaraes
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Zina
mesh_terms: D003797:Dental Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors