Introduction According to World Health Organization (WHO), Musculo Skeletal Disorder(MSD) is a disorder of muscles, tendons, peripheral nerves or vascular system not directly resulting from acute or instantaneous events. Procedures in oral health care often require longer appointments and involve work that demands the use of force, repetition. When these longer appointments are coupled with incorrect posture, the probability of developing musculoskeletal complications increases. Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify the musculoskeletal problems experienced by dental students in a teaching dental institution in the capital region of Andhra Pradesh and to discern the attitude of these students on ergonomics. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students from clinical years and post graduate students attending a dental institution in the capital region of Andhra Pradesh using a self administered, structured questionnaire. A total of 227 filled questionnaires were returned, of which, 216 were included in the final analysis after elimination of questionnaires with incomplete responses. Results: 197 students reported having experienced one or more of the musculoskeletal problems. There was a significant difference in the type of musculoskeletal complaints based on gender, with lower back pain being the most common complaint among both males and females. Restorative dentistry was reported to be the most common cause for MSDs. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of MSDs in the present study. Measures to integrate ergonomics teaching in the curriculum and practice of proper postures in the course of delivering care are necessary for stress free provision of oral health care.

Keywords : Dental education; Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal problems.