Musculoskeletal symptoms among dentists in a dental school

A cross-sectional study of symptoms from the musculoskeletal system among employees in a school of dentistry was performed. A questionnaire was answered by 139 dentists, dental auxiliaries and office workers, e.g. 68% of the employees. The answers from the dentists were compared to the answers from all the other employees. No significant differences in musculoskeletal symptoms between the dentists and the other employees were found. Female dentists reported more musculoskeletal symptoms than did male dentists. No difference was found comparing the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms among female dentists and females in the reference group. This indicates that the symptoms are not related to the work as a dentist, but to female working conditions in general or to factors outside work.