Exploring the prevalence and characteristics of sensory stimulation-induced headaches among dental professionals: a questionnaire-based study

Introduction: The dental profession nowadays is a highly demanding and stressful environment. Dental professionals encounter a great deal of stress in the form of academics and at work in clinics. Headaches are a major and common neurological problem and are the main reason for decreased work performance, absenteeism, and behavioral disturbances in dental professionals. Aim: In the current incidence of increasing stressful conditions in dental professionals, the present study was carried out with the aim of assessing the prevalence and characteristics of sensory stimulation-induced headaches in dental professionals in Pune, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among undergraduate and postgraduate dental students, as well as dental practitioners in Pune. Participants were requested to complete the questionnaire using an online Google Form platform and provide their ratings and responses based on personal experiences. Consequently, the collected data were subjected to comprehensive statistical analysis using Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 22, and descriptive statistics were employed to compare and analyze the obtained results. Results: The headache was found to be prevalent in 88% of subjects included in the study. Over 40.8% of subjects experience throbbing pain. 66.4% of subjects experience fatigue, and 50% of them show mood changes like premonitory symptoms. The most triggering factor of the headache is odor, i.e., 81.6%. 67.6% experience difficulty in concentrating, and 31.2% experience nausea. About 40.4% of subjects are exposed to dental chair light for 2-4 hours of work. Over 16.4% of subjects have missed work in past years due to headaches. 76.4% of subjects alleviate headaches through sleeping. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that the characteristics of sensory stimulation are a significant reason for headaches among dental professionals.