MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN MALE AND FEMALE DENTAL PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS: ASSOCIATION WITH BODY REGIONS, SPECIALTIES, AND DENTAL PROCEDURES — AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: dental surgeons and dental students show high exposure to biomechanical risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). Objective: to analyze, through an integrative literature review, how different body regions, specialties, and dental procedures are associated with MSD occurrence in dental surgeons and dental students, comparing symptom distribution between sexes. Method: integrative review structured across bibliographic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO) and related open-access journals. Results: MSD prevalence ranged from 64% to 100% among professionals, with a pooled estimate of 78.4% (95%CI 74.8–82.0) and an odds ratio of 1.42 (95%CI 1.09–1.84) for higher occurrence in women; among students, a multicenter study reported 93.7% prevalence over twelve months. The cervical, lumbar, and shoulder regions were the most affected; endodontics, oral surgery, and periodontics were the specialties most associated with symptoms. Conclusion: MSD affect a substantial share of dental professionals and students, with a distinct pattern across body regions, specialties, and sexes, reinforcing the relevance of preventive ergonomic measures aligned with NR-17 from undergraduate training onward.