Introduction:

dental practice involves exposure to biological, ergonomic, physical, and psychosocial risks. In Paraguay, there is a scarcity of recent local data.

Objective:

to identify and analyze the occupational risks of personnel providing dental services in the Fifth Health Region of Paraguay in 2023.

Methodology:

this was a descriptive cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling. The eligible population (N) consisted of all dental personnel in hospitals of the Fifth Health Region; n = 79 participated. An 18-item structured questionnaire (Google Forms) was administered between June and August 2023. Associations by job category (dentists, nurses, cleaning staff, technicians) were explored using the chi-square test.

Results:

the results showed a high prevalence of occupational risks among the 79 participants. More than 90 % reported inadequate lighting and prolonged static postures; 92.4 % reported neck pain, 83.5 % wrist pain, and 79.7 % finger pain. Exposure to X-rays affected 79.7 %, while 69.6 % were exposed to aerosolized contaminants and 44.3 % to toxic gases. Significant differences were found by occupational group: scalpel cuts were more frequent among nurses (p=0.014), standing for more than 8 hours was more frequent among cleaning staff (p=0.008), and exposure to toxic gases was more frequent among nurses and cleaning staff (p=0.001). Additionally, two statistically significant associations with sociodemographic characteristics were identified: finger pain decreased with work experience (90.3% in 1-3 years vs. 63.0 % in ≥7 years, p = 0.032), and women presented a higher prevalence of neck pain than men (97.9 % vs. 83.9 %, p = 0.032).

Conclusions:

musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities and neck are highly prevalent in healthcare workers. Work experience acts as a protective factor for finger pain, while being female constitutes a risk factor for neck pain. Differentiated ergonomic interventions based on experience and sex are required.

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