Objectives: The use of dental handpieces exposes the dental personnel to high-frequency vibration. Dentists have been shown to have a high frequency of finger-related and other upper limb symptoms and a high prevalence of osteoarthrosis in the distal interphalangeal joints.
Methods: The vibration of 22 dental handpieces was measured during normal work with accelerometer. The weighted vibration according to the standard ISO 5349-1 and the total acceleration of high frequency vibration ("ultravibration") in the frequency range of 1.6-10 kHz were analyzed. In order to compare non-contact vibration measurement method for dental handpieces, vibration of 12 handpieces was measured during idling with Portable Digital Vibrometer and simultaneously with the accelerometer. A group of 295 female dentists aged 45-63 years responded to a questionnaire on working conditions, lifestyle, and health.
Results: The vibration measurements of air-turbine and micromotor handpieces showed that daily vibration exposure of dentists was below the exposure action value of the Vibration Directive of European Union. The highest vibration levels of the handpieces exist in the frequency range above 1,250 Hz. The traditional method and the laser method gave highly similar values. A long work history in dental filling and root treatment as well as high BMI seem to be associated with frequent finger symptoms perceived as vibration-related by the dentists.
Conclusions: The vibration exposure of dentists is low determined according to European legislation. However, a long work history in dental filling and root treatment seems to be associated with the risk of frequent finger symptoms of dentists. Therefore, when "pinch-gripping" is used, the effects of vibration on fingers should be comprehensively studied.