title: Work-related Musculoskeletal Pain among Different Dental Specialists in United Arab Emirates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dentists are at a very high risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal pain. The present study aimed at studying the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among different dental specialists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and correlating the region of pain with the type of clinical work done by the specialists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of more than 100 dentists was chosen randomly from different emirates in UAE. An interview questionnaire was administered regarding the number of years of experience and the presence, region, duration, and type of musculoskeletal pain they experienced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Musculoskeletal pain is experienced by 83.3% of periodontists, 80% of conservative dentists, 77.8% of endodon-tists, 72.7% of orthodontists, 70% of oral surgeons, 63.6% of prosthodontists, 63% of general dental practitioners, and 50% of pedodontists. The results have also indicated that the region of experienced musculoskeletal pain does vary according to the specialty. From those dentists who experience work-related musculoskeletal pain, 80% of conservative dentists experience pain in neck and shoulders, 66.7% of periodontists, and 54.5% of orthodontists experience pain in the lower back region. More than 50% of endodontists experience pain in the neck and shoulders regions, and 39% of general dental practitioners who experience pain in the neck region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preventive measures need to be taken to decrease the risk of dentists and dental specialists developing work-related musculoskeletal pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among registered general dental practitioners and dental specialists in UAE was not clearly documented. The study results indicated that the region that experienced musculoskeletal pain does vary according to the specialty.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, e-mail: nhabdulla@sharjah.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Natheer H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Al-Rawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Hiba El
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rajoub
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mariem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Rawand
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naji
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Sausan Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kawas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013039:Specialties, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Cross-sectional study; Dental specialists; Ergonomics; General dental practitioners; Lower back pain; Musculoskeletal pain; Neck pain.