Hubungan Faktor Risiko Dental Ergonomi dengan Keluhan Subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) pada Dental Assistant

One of the hazards in dentistry is dental ergonomic. A working problem that can be caused by ergonomic hazards is Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). The dental assistant is one of the jobs that have a risk for the occurrence of abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system. Based on the preliminary study on dental assistants that work in Pontianak City showed that 85% of people had musculoskeletal complaints on the legs, 71,4% had complaints on the calf, and 57,1% had complaints on the shoulder and upper back. The aim of this research is to find out the correlation between risk factors of dental ergonomics and subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) on dental assistants. The type of this research was a quantitative study with an analytical observational approach using a cross-sectional design. The research was conducted in Pontianak City in August 2021. The population of this research is 48 respondents and the samples were chosen using the total sampling technique. The instrument that used in this research were collected from the risk factors of dental ergonomics and Nordic Body Map (NMB) questionnaires which were later analyzed using Kendall's tau-b test. The result of this research is risk factors of dental ergonomics in the low category is 54,20%. The subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the low category is 68,80%. Based on Kendall's tau-b test showed that P. Value is 0,601 > 0,05 it means that there is no correlation between risk factors of dental ergonomics and subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). The conclusion of this research is there is no correlation between risk factors of dental ergonomics and subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) on dental assistants. For further research is expected to examine other risk factors that can cause subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Salah satu unsur bahaya dalam dunia kedokteran gigi adalah dental ergonomi. Masalah kerja yang dapat ditimbulkan akibat bahaya ergonomi adalah Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Pekerjaan dental assistant merupakan salah satu pekerjaan yang memiliki risiko untuk terjadinya keluhan pada sistem musculoskeletal. Hasil studi pendahuluan pada dental assistant yang bekerja di wilayah Kota Pontianak menunjukkan bahwa 85% responden mengalami keluhan musculoskeletal pada bagian kaki, 71,4% pada bagian betis, dan 57,1% pada bagian bahu dan punggung atas. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara faktor risiko dental ergonomi dengan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) pada dental assistant. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan pendekatan observasional analitik menggunakan rancangan cross-sectional. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Kota Pontianak pada bulan Agustus 2021. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah 48 responden dan pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik total sampling. Instrumen dalam penelitian ini menggunakan kuesioner faktor risiko dental ergonomi dan kuesioner Nordic Body Map (NBM). Analisis data menggunakan uji Kendall’s Tau-B. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah faktor risiko dental ergonomi berada pada kategori rendah (54,20%). Keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) berada pada kategori rendah (68,80%). Hasil analisis data menunjukkan nilai P. Value sebesar 0,601 > 0,05 sehingga tidak terdapat hubungan antara faktor risiko dental ergonomi dengan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah tidak terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara faktor risiko dental ergonomi dengan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) pada dental assistant. Penelitian selanjutnya diharapkan dapat mengkaji faktor-faktor risiko lain yang dapat menyebabkan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).

Hubungan Faktor Risiko Dental Ergonomi dengan Keluhan Subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) pada Dental Assistant

One of the hazards in dentistry is dental ergonomic. A working problem that can be caused by ergonomic hazards is Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). The dental assistant is one of the jobs that have a risk for the occurrence of abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system. Based on the preliminary study on dental assistants that work in Pontianak City showed that 85% of people had musculoskeletal complaints on the legs, 71,4% had complaints on the calf, and 57,1% had complaints on the shoulder and upper back. The aim of this research is to find out the correlation between risk factors of dental ergonomics and subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) on dental assistants. The type of this research was a quantitative study with an analytical observational approach using a cross-sectional design. The research was conducted in Pontianak City in August 2021. The population of this research is 48 respondents and the samples were chosen using the total sampling technique. The instrument that used in this research were collected from the risk factors of dental ergonomics and Nordic Body Map (NMB) questionnaires which were later analyzed using Kendall's tau-b test. The result of this research is risk factors of dental ergonomics in the low category is 54,20%. The subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the low category is 68,80%. Based on Kendall's tau-b test showed that P. Value is 0,601 > 0,05 it means that there is no correlation between risk factors of dental ergonomics and subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). The conclusion of this research is there is no correlation between risk factors of dental ergonomics and subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) on dental assistants. For further research is expected to examine other risk factors that can cause subjective complaints of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Salah satu unsur bahaya dalam dunia kedokteran gigi adalah dental ergonomi. Masalah kerja yang dapat ditimbulkan akibat bahaya ergonomi adalah Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Pekerjaan dental assistant merupakan salah satu pekerjaan yang memiliki risiko untuk terjadinya keluhan pada sistem musculoskeletal. Hasil studi pendahuluan pada dental assistant yang bekerja di wilayah Kota Pontianak menunjukkan bahwa 85% responden mengalami keluhan musculoskeletal pada bagian kaki, 71,4% pada bagian betis, dan 57,1% pada bagian bahu dan punggung atas. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara faktor risiko dental ergonomi dengan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) pada dental assistant. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan pendekatan observasional analitik menggunakan rancangan cross-sectional. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Kota Pontianak pada bulan Agustus 2021. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah 48 responden dan pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik total sampling. Instrumen dalam penelitian ini menggunakan kuesioner faktor risiko dental ergonomi dan kuesioner Nordic Body Map (NBM). Analisis data menggunakan uji Kendall’s Tau-B. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah faktor risiko dental ergonomi berada pada kategori rendah (54,20%). Keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) berada pada kategori rendah (68,80%). Hasil analisis data menunjukkan nilai P. Value sebesar 0,601 > 0,05 sehingga tidak terdapat hubungan antara faktor risiko dental ergonomi dengan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah tidak terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara faktor risiko dental ergonomi dengan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) pada dental assistant. Penelitian selanjutnya diharapkan dapat mengkaji faktor-faktor risiko lain yang dapat menyebabkan keluhan subjektif Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).

COVID-19 Prevalence among Czech Dentists

This work evaluates the prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), among members of the Czech Dental Chamber. The assessment was based on an online questionnaire filled out by 2716 participants, representing 24.3% of all chamber members. Overall, 25.4% of the participants admitted they were diagnosed with COVID-19 by 30 June 2021, with no statistical differences between the sexes. While in the age groups under 50 the reported prevalence was around 30%, with increasing age, it gradually decreased to 15.2% in the group over 70 years. The work environment was identified as a place of contagion by 38.4% of the respondents. The total COVID-19 PCR-verified positivity was 13.9%, revealing a statistically lower prevalence (p = 0.0180) compared with the Czech general population, in which the COVID-19 PCR-verified positivity was ~15.6% (fourth highest rank in the world). The total infection–hospitalization ratio (IHR) was 2.8%, and the median age group of hospitalized individuals was 60–70 years. For respondents older than 60 years, the IHR was 8.7%, and for those under 40 years, it was 0%. Of the respondents, 37.7% admitted that another team member was diagnosed with COVID-19, of which the most frequently mentioned profession was a nurse/dental assistant (81.2%). The results indicate that although the dentist profession is associated with a high occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, well-chosen antiepidemic measures adopted by dental professionals may outweigh it.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Dental Students—RULA Applied to Objective Kinematic Data

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is already prevalent in dental students despite their young age and the short duration of dental practice. The current findings state that the causes of MSD are related to posture during dental work. This study aims to investigate the ergonomic risk of dental students. In order to analyze the ergonomic risk of dental students, 3D motion analyses were performed with inertial sensors during the performance of standardized dental activities. For this purpose, 15 dental students and 15 dental assistant trainees (all right-handed) were measured in a team. Data were analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), which was modified to evaluate objective data. Ergonomic risk was found for the following body parts in descending order: left wrist, right wrist, neck, trunk, left lower arm, right lower arm, right upper arm, left upper arm. All relevant body parts, taken together, exhibited a posture with the highest RULA score that could be achieved (median Final Overall = 7), with body parts in the very highest RULA score of 7 for almost 80% of the treatment time. Dental students work with poor posture over a long period of time, exposing them to high ergonomic risk. Therefore, it seems necessary that more attention should be paid to theoretical and practical ergonomics in dental school.

Evaluation of temporomandibular disorder and oral parafunction prevalence in dental assistant students: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Objective: This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and oral parafunctions in dental assistant students and examine the effects of sex and years of education. Materials and Methods: One-hundred five dental assistant students were included in the study. The Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) was used to evaluate the presence of TMD in individuals, and the Oral Habit Checklist (OBC) was used to evaluate oral parafunctions. Results: Sixty-eight individuals (64.8%) had TMD at some level. It was determined that 46 of the females, who constituted the majority of the participants, had mild-TMD, which was significantly different from the males (p<0.001). According to the OBC results, oral parafunctions were associated with TMD, with low-moderate significant correlations (p <0.05). Conclusion: Early diagnosis of temporomandibular joint problems with various questionaries in the university, especially in the young population, is vital in terms of disease prognosis and will prevent future complications.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Dental Assistants regarding Dental Asepsis and Sterilization in the Dental Workplace

Aims and Objectives. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of dental asepsis and sterilization among dental assistants in Pakistan. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A 27-item prepilot tested close-ended questionnaire was designed and administered online to collect data on knowledge of asepsis, sterilization, instrument handling, disinfection, hand-hygiene practices, dental practice, age, education, and experience level from March 2020 to June 2020. Results. Out of 70 dental assistants, the majority were aged between 21 and 29 years (44.30%), more than two-thirds (85.41%) of the dental assistants were working in a hospital, while 14.29% were working in private clinics, only 7.1% had a diploma in the dental assistant program, and 74% had more than 2 years of experience in practice. Dental assistants working in private practice (76.30) had a higher mean knowledge scores compared to those working in hospital (74.25), while those with less than 2 years of experience (75.61) had a higher scores compared to those with 2–5 years of experience (73.96). Conclusion. Better compliance with recommended infection control and waste management practices is needed for all dental assistants. Continuing education programs targeting such awareness are vital to improve the management of hazardous waste practices among dental assistants.

Formation of Professional Readyness of the Future Specialist

The article substantiates the content and develops a model of professional training of assistant dentist, as well as his educational and qualification characteristics and educational and professional program and, through experiment, introduced the training of such a specialist in seven higher medical schools in Ukraine. Theoretical concretization and experimental testing of organizational and pedagogical conditions of professional training of junior specialists of dental profile in the line of general requirements of the personal approach to the organization of process of professional training are carried out. Factor analysis of trends in the development of education and environmental systems and analysis of the experience of professional training of auxiliary specialists in the field of dentistry abroad revealed the conditionality and necessity of professional training in Ukraine for junior dentists. The organizational and pedagogical conditions that will ensure the effectiveness of professional training of a dental assistant in a higher medical educational institution, namely: the system of three-subject interaction of the educational institution, the student as a future specialist and potential employer and pedagogical opportunities for self-realization of the student as a subobject of his/her own professional training. Through the experiment, the effectiveness of the introduction of organizational and pedagogical conditions for the professional training of an assistant dentist was proved. During the study, the experimental group eventually rethought the “object” of its activities and crossed the previously opaque boundaries between medical care and student supervision for the benefit of all parties.

SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity among Dental Staff and the Role of Aspirating Systems

Introduction: Health care workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of infection owing to occupational exposure to patients and virus-contaminated surfaces. Objectives: The study was aimed to reveal and compare the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among patient-facing HCWs across 3 dental clinics equipped with different types of aspirating systems. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 157 HCWs (43.58 ± 1.66 y) from 3 dental clinics in Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation) who reported to work during the coronavirus disease pandemic. All HCWs underwent serological testing once a week to detect immunoglobulin G and M antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2. The V6000 aspirating system with a vacuum controller (dry or semidry mode) and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters was used at clinics A and B, and the aspirated aerosol and air were evacuated and dissipated into the atmosphere. The VS900 aspirating vacuum pump without HEPA filters was used at clinic C. The aspirated aerosol and air were evacuated and dissipated into the operatories. All dental clinics followed the same recommendations for dental patient management and types of personal protective equipment used. Results: The estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 11.5% (19 HCWs) over a 5-mo follow-up (May to August 2020). The prevalence of infection was unaffected by sex or the role of the member in the dental team (dentist/dental assistant). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (+) was significantly higher at clinic C (equipped with an aspirating vacuum pump without HEPA filters) than at other clinics. Conclusion: The type of aspirating system used and the presence of HEPA filters could affect the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection across dental clinics. Therefore, we recommend the use of aspirating systems installed with HEPA filters, which evacuate and dissipate aerosols into specialized areas. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This report confirms that dentists, being patient-facing HCWs, are at a high risk of acquiring the SARS-CoV-2 infection and identifies gaps in the protection of patients and staff in dental settings.

Mitigating saliva aerosol contamination in a dental school clinic

Background Transmission of COVID-19 via salivary aerosol particles generated when using handpieces or ultrasonic scalers is a major concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the spread of dental aerosols on patients and dental providers during aerosol-generating dental procedures. Methods This pilot study was conducted with one volunteer. A dental unit used at the dental school for general dental care was the site of the experiment. Before the study, three measurement meters (DustTrak 8534, PTrak 8525 and AeroTrak 9306) were used to measure the ambient distribution of particles in the ambient air surrounding the dental chair. The volunteer wore a bouffant, goggles, and shoe covers and was seated in the dental chair in supine position, and covered with a surgical drape. The dentist and dental assistant donned bouffant, goggles, face shields, N95 masks, surgical gowns and shoe covers. The simulation was conducted by using a high-speed handpiece with a diamond bur operating in the oral cavity for 6 min without touching the teeth. A new set of measurement was obtained while using an ultrasonic scaler to clean all teeth of the volunteer. For both aerosol generating procedures, the aerosol particles were measured with the use of saliva ejector (SE) and high-speed suction (HSS) followed a separate set of measurement with the additional use of an extra oral high-volume suction (HVS) unit that was placed close to the mouth to capture the aerosol in addition to SE and HSS. The distribution of the air particles, including the size and concentration of aerosols, was measured around the patient, dentist, dental assistant, 3 feet above the patient, and the floor. Results Four locations were identified with elevated aerosol levels compared to the baseline, including the chest of the dentist, the chest of patient, the chest of assistant and 3 feet above the patient. The use of additional extra oral high volume suction reduced aerosol to or below the baseline level. Conclusions The increase of the level of aerosol with size less than 10 µm was minimal during dental procedures when using SE and HSS. Use of HVS further reduced aerosol levels below the ambient levels.