The relationship between dental posture, musculoskeletal pain and body awareness of dentist.

The aim of the study; to observe the working posture of dentists, to evaluate body awareness and musculoskeletal pain and to examine the relationship between them. The study group consisted of 58 dentists from 8 specialty branches working at Hacettepe University, and the control group consisted of 30 dentist students studying at Hacettepe University 3rd grade. The ergonomics of the individuals included in the study were evaluated with REBA (Whole Body Assessment Method), Body Awareness Body Awareness Questionnaire (VFA) and Musculoskeletal Pain and Nordic Musculoskeletal System Questionnaire (NMQ). A significant difference was found between REBA total scores of dentists and students included in the study (p <0.001). When the musculoskeletal pain of the dentist and students were compared, it was found that there was a significant difference between the painful status of the dentists in the neck, shoulder, wrist and waist region (p <0.05). According to REBA, the dentists were divided into risk groups with 7 individuals in the medium risk group, 32 individuals in the high risk group, and 19 individuals in the very high group. There was a significant correlation between REBA total scores and pain in musculoskeletal areas of shoulder and elbow and back regions (p <0.05). No significant relationship was found between dentists' body awareness and musculoskeletal pain (p> 0.05). There was no significant relationship between body awareness and REBA total scores of dentists (r> 0.05). After starting to work as a dentist, the study posture was found to be more risky than in the education life. The study posture was found to cause musculoskeletal pain in dentists. Today, dentists cannot pay enough attention to their postures during the day as a result of long-term and stressful working conditions under severe conditions. In addition, we think that the risk of encountering musculoskeletal problems may increase in the future years of the profession in dentists and besides the exercises directed towards the musculoskeletal system, body awareness exercises are important in increasing postural awareness.