Clinical and electrodiagnostic abnormalities of the median nerve in Army dental assistants before and after training as preventive dental specialists.

Purpose: Dentists and dental hygienists have been reported as having a high prevalence of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome. Unfortunately, previous research has not involved the impact of preventive dental specialist training on dental assistants. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the presence of median and ulnar neuropathies in US Army dental assistants before and after training as preventive dental specialists.

Clinical and electrodiagnostic abnormalities of the median nerve in dental assistants.

Study Design: Descriptive.

Objectives: To determine the presence of clinical and electrodiagnostic abnormalities of the median and ulnar nerves in both upper extremities of dental assistants.

Background: A high prevalence of median neuropathies at, or distal to, the wrist have been reported in dentists and dental hygienists.