Search

Since the working medical personnel including dentists and dental technicians mainly use their hands, it is understandable that the most common occupational disease amongst medical personnel is contact dermatitis (CD) (80%-90% of cases). Development of occupational CD is caused by contact of the skin with various substances in occupational environment. Occupational etiologic factors for dental personnel are foremost reactions to gloves containing latex, followed by various dental materials (e.g., metals, acrylates), detergents, lubricants, solvents, chemicals, etc. Since occupational CD is relatively common in dental personnel, its timely recognition, treatment and taking preventive measures is needed. Achieving skin protection at exposed workplaces is of special importance, as well as implementing necessary measures consequently and sufficiently, which is sometimes difficult to achieve. Various studies have shown the benefit of applying preventive measures, such as numerous protocols for reducing and managing latex sensitivity and other forms of CD in dentistry. Active involvement of physicians within the health care system, primarily dermatologists, occupational medicine specialists and general medicine doctors is needed for establishing an accurate medical diagnosis and confirmation of occupational skin disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of some occupationally related health problems among dentists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method: A cross-sectional study using the one-stage complex sampling technique to evaluate the results of a self-reporting questionnaire distributed to 844 dentists working in three cities (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah) in UAE. Results: Seven hundred and thirty-three (87%) dentists, aged 22–70 years, responded. The most common occupational health problems were musculoskeletal pain [497 (68%)] and percutaneous injury [306 (42%)]. Around one-fifth [135 (18%)] of dentists had a history of contact dermatitis, mostly caused by latex gloves, 53% had eye problems and 5% had hearing problems. Conclusions: As exposure to potential infectious agents is of concern, continuing education in the avoidance of percutaneous injuries would be beneficial. Further studies are needed to identify the causes of musculoskeletal pain and the appropriate interventions to reduce its prevalence; similar measures are required to reduce exposure to agents which may produce contact dermatitis. The awareness of occupational health problems should be highlighted at all clinical and research symposia.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epidemiology of hand dermatoses symptoms and allergies, particularly those that suggested possible latex allergy. METHODS: In 2004, a self-reporting questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 400 dentists from the Queensland Branch of the Australian Dental Association. RESULTS: A total of 285 questionnaires (73.1%) were completed and returned. Of the respondents, 73.3% were male and 26.7% female, with a mean age of 45.2 years (SD = 11.9 years) of whom 89.1% were general dentists, the remainder being specialists. Almost one third (29.1%) had experienced symptoms of hand dermatoses at some stage during the previous 12 months, with 15.1% experiencing symptoms during the previous three weeks. The most common symptom or sign was dry and cracked hands or fingers (22.5%). Only 2.1% of dentists had been medically diagnosed with latex allergy. The most common symptom or sign following the use of latex products was dermatitis (11.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study showed that occupational dermatoses constitute a major occupational health problem among dentists in Queensland, Australia. Symptoms appear to be reported at a similar prevalence to other studies in developed countries. The identification of atopic dermatitis as a significant risk factor again stresses the importance of allergic disease and its relationship with occupational skin conditions. Although reducing exposure to potential allergens and irritants is an important minimisation strategy, further research is needed to identify occupational and non-occupational factors associated with occupational dermatoses in dental personnel.

In dentistry, allergic contact dermatitis to acrylates and allergic contact urticaria to latex are important occupational hazards. There is a need to identify non-latex gloves which are suitable for dental work but at the same time provide adequate protection against acrylate monomers. In a previous study, a new open-chamber system was used for testing the in vivo protection of 6 different gloves against an acrylate-containing ethanol-based dental adhesive. A nitrile glove gave the best protection among the gloves suitable for dental work. In the present study, the test model was used to investigate the in vivo protection of 7 non-latex gloves against a dental bonding product containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) in an acetone/water vehicle. Eight 2-HEMA-allergic patients participated. Two neoprene gloves gave the best protection. The protection of the poorest glove was comparable to that of the positive control (no glove). The study produced in vivo data useful in the implementation of individual preventative measures against contact allergy to acrylates.

Derivatives of methacrylic acid showing strong sensitising properties are frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis in dentists and dental technicians.1–4 Methyl methacrylate is used for fabrication of acrylic removable partial or complete dentures for edentulous patients. Dentists, especially prosthodontists, are repeatedly exposure to these chemicals during various clinical and laboratory procedures. The most frequent sensitisers include 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol …

Aims: To investigate the prevalence and nature of some occupationally related health problems in dentists in southern Thailand. Design: A cross-sectional study using a self-report questionnaire distributed to all 220 dentists working in 14 provinces in southern Thailand in 1997. Participants: One hundred and seventy-eight dentists aged between 22 to 54 years responded. Results: The most common occupational health problems were musculoskeletal pain (78 per cent) and percutaneous injury (50 per cent). Associated factors were analysed using multivariate analysis. About 22 per cent of these dentists had a history of contact dermatitis mostly caused by allergy to latex gloves, 15 per cent had eye problems, and 3 per cent had hearing problems. Conclusions: Continuing education in the avoidance of percutaneous injuries would be beneficial, as exposure to potential infectious agents is of concern. Further studies are needed to identify causes of musculoskeletal pain and to identify appropriate interventions to reduce its prevalence, as would similar measures to reduce exposure to agents which may be producing contact dermatitis.