SynthesisPloS one2018
Prevalence and occupational risk factors of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals in Western countries: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 84 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
84 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Global prevalence and associated risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among steelworkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Musculoskeletal disorders among teachers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2024Pooled it
- Organisational-level risk and health-promoting factors within the healthcare sector-a systematic search and review.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the automobile manufacturing industry in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2023Pooled it
- Optical Motion Capture Systems for 3D Kinematic Analysis in Patients with Shoulder Disorders.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Prevention of Musculoskeletal Diseases and Pain among Dental Professionals through Ergonomic Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Pooled it
- Low back pain prevalence and risk factors among health workers in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of occupational health · 2020Pooled it
- Effectiveness of typodont, quail egg and virtual simulation for ultrasonic periodontal scaling teaching among pre-clinical students: a randomized trial.BMC oral health · 2024Trial
- Real-Time Wearable Cervical Posture Monitoring in Dentistry: A Prospective Usability Trial with Dental Students.European journal of dentistry · 2026Article
- Article
- Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Students and Dentists, and Its Relationship With Extra-Occupational Factors.European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2026Article
- Lumbar Magnetic Resonance Imaging Profiles and Their Association with Low Back Pain in Dentists: A Cluster Analysis Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Prevalence and demographic factors associated with MSD-related sick leave among dentists in Kuwait: a nationwide retrospective study.BMC public health · 2026Observational
- Occupational diseases in dentistry: Prevention.Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry · 2026Review
- Coexistence of neck pain and low back pain, and their association with demographic, occupational, and spine MRI-based morphological factors in dentists.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Can experiential learning boost dental ergonomics? evaluating a microscope-based curriculum through Kirkpatrick's model.BMC oral health · 2026Article
- Chronobiology-Driven Anti-Aging Strategies for Enhancing Dentists' Occupational Health and Quality of Life: A Narrative Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Understanding the Burden of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dental Students: A Multinational Cohort Study.European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2026Article
- The Relationship of Poor Posture While Using Electronic Devices and Periscapular Shoulder Pain.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Article
24 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis review aimed at examining the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals in Western countries. Furthermore, possible occupational risk factors were analyzed.
methodsThe literature search was conducted from June to July 2016, with an update in December 2017 using the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, LIVIVO, Science Direct, PubMed, and Web of Science. The quality assessment was performed with a standardized instrument consisting of 10 items. A meta-analysis was carried out to compute pooled prevalence rates for musculoskeletal diseases and pain.
resultsA total of 41 studies were included in this review; 30 studies met the criteria for the meta-analysis. Prevalence rates of musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals ranged from 10.8% to 97.9%. The neck was the body region affected most often (58.5%, 95% CI = 46.0-71.0) followed by the lower back (56.4%, 95% CI = 46.1-66.8), the shoulder (43.1%, 95% CI = 30.7-55.5) and the upper back (41.1%, 95% CI = 32.3-49.9). Potential occupational risk factors included an awkward working posture, high number of treated patients, administrative work, vibration, and repetition.
conclusionsMusculoskeletal diseases and pain are a significant health burden for dental professionals. This study showed high prevalence rates for several body regions. Therefore, suitable interventions for preventing musculoskeletal diseases and pain among dental professionals are needed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.