Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and carpal tunnel syndrome among dental hygienists. 2002

Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
Biomechanics and Ergonomics Facility, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa 52242, USA. dan-anton@uiowa.edu

BACKGROUND Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and other work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common problems in general industry as well as dental hygiene. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of CTS and other MSDs among dental hygienists. No previous studies involving dental hygienists have combined nerve conduction studies (NCS) and symptoms in their CTS case definitions. METHODS Dental hygienists (N = 95) completed a symptom and job factors survey, hand symptom diagram, and underwent NCS across the wrist. RESULTS At least one MSD was reported by 93%. Prevalence of CTS was 8.4% utilizing a case definition of symptoms and NCS, but 42% if defined by symptoms alone. Age, BMI, and the number of patients treated per day were significant factors associated with CTS. CONCLUSIONS Dental hygienists are exposed to occupational factors that increase the risk of CTS. A case definition that does not include NCS overestimates CTS prevalence.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009140 Musculoskeletal Diseases Diseases of the muscles and their associated ligaments and other connective tissue and of the bones and cartilage viewed collectively. Orthopedic Disorders,Musculoskeletal Disease,Orthopedic Disorder
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011336 Probability The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process. Probabilities
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002349 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Entrapment of the MEDIAN NERVE in the carpal tunnel, which is formed by the flexor retinaculum and the CARPAL BONES. This syndrome may be associated with repetitive occupational trauma (CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS); wrist injuries; AMYLOID NEUROPATHIES; rheumatoid arthritis (see ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID); ACROMEGALY; PREGNANCY; and other conditions. Symptoms include burning pain and paresthesias involving the ventral surface of the hand and fingers which may radiate proximally. Impairment of sensation in the distribution of the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy may occur. (Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, p45) Compression Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Entrapment Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Amyotrophy, Thenar, Of Carpal Origin,Median Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Carpal Tunnel Syndromes,Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel,Syndromes, Carpal Tunnel
D003756 Dental Hygienists Persons trained in an accredited school or dental college and licensed by the state in which they reside to provide dental prophylaxis under the direction of a licensed dentist. Dental Hygienist,Hygienist, Dental,Hygienists, Dental
D005260 Female Females
D006306 Health Surveys A systematic collection of factual data pertaining to health and disease in a human population within a given geographic area. Abortion Surveys,Abortion Survey,Health Survey,Survey, Abortion,Survey, Health,Surveys, Abortion,Surveys, Health

Related Publications

Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 1990, Northwest dentistry,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
February 1990, Journal of dental hygiene : JDH,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 1988, Dental hygiene,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 2002, Journal of dental hygiene : JDH,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 2001, Journal of dental hygiene : JDH,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
August 2023, Cureus,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 2024, World neurosurgery: X,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 2019, Annals of Saudi medicine,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
February 2012, American journal of industrial medicine,
Dan Anton, and John Rosecrance, and Linda Merlino, and Thomas Cook
January 1995, Work (Reading, Mass.),
Copied contents to your clipboard!