J Adv Prosthodont.  2012 Nov;4(4):259-265. 10.4047/jap.2012.4.4.259.

Occupational health hazards in a prosthodontic practice: review of risk factors and management strategies

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Prosthodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, India. cherub2008@gmail.com
  • 2Department of Prosthodontics, Sri Moogambikai Institute of Dental Sciences, Kulasekram, India.
  • 3Department of Prosthodontics, Satyabahma University Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India.

Abstract

The intent of this article was to analyze the potential hazards and risks involved in persons exposed to prosthodontic practice. These risks include exposure to physical and chemical hazards, dental materials, infectious environment, inappropriate working pattern and psychosocial stress. The potential harm of these hazards and its prevention is highlighted. Prosthodontists, students, dental technicians, and others working in the prosthodontic clinics and laboratory should be aware of the specific risk factors and take measures to prevent and overcome these hazards.

Keyword

Health hazards; Occupational exposure; Occupational hazards; Risk management

MeSH Terms

Dental Materials
Hazardous Substances
Humans
Occupational Exposure
Occupational Health
Prosthodontics
Risk Factors
Risk Management
Students, Dental
Dental Materials
Hazardous Substances

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Types and sources of hazards and risks in prosthodontic practice.


Reference

1. International Program on Chemical Safety IPCS. Risk assessment terminology: Part 1 and Part 2. 2004. Accessed on February 17, 2012. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization;Available at http://www.inchem.org/documents/harmproj/harmproj/harmproj1.pdf.
2. Jacobsen N, Aasenden R, Hensten-Pettersen A. Occupational health complaints and adverse patient reactions as perceived by personnel in public dentistry. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1991. 19:155–159.
3. Sinclair NA, Thomson WM. Prevalence of self-reported hand dermatoses in New Zealand dentists. N Z Dent J. 2004. 100:38–41.
4. Hamann CP, Rodgers PA, Sullivan KM. Occupational allergens in dentistry. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004. 4:403–409.
5. Siew C, Chang SB, Gruninger SE, Verrusio AC, Neidle EA. Self-reported percutaneous injuries in dentists: implications for HBV, HIV, transmission risk. J Am Dent Assoc. 1992. 123:36–44.
6. McDonald RI, Walsh LJ, Savage NW. Analysis of workplace injuries in a dental school environment. Aust Dent J. 1997. 42:109–113.
7. Szymanska J. Dentist's hand symptoms and high-frequency vibration. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2001. 8:7–10.
8. Burke FJ, Jaques SA. Vibration white finger. Br Dent J. 1993. 174:194.
9. Farrier SL, Farrier JN, Gilmour AS. Eye safety in operative dentistry - a study in general dental practice. Br Dent J. 2006. 200:218–223.
10. Scully C, Cawson RA, Griffiths MJ. Mortality and some aspects of morbidity: Ch.1. Occupational hazard to dental staff. 1990. London: British Medical Journal;1–21.
11. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical agents and biological exposure indices. 2008. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists;146–155.
12. Gasyna KA, Rezaei WF, Mieler KA, et al. Blue light induces apoptosis in human fetal retinal pigment epithelium (abstract 3813). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006. 47:180.
13. Chen E. Inhibition of cytochrome oxidase and blue-light damage in rat retina. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1993. 231:416–423.
14. Bruzell Roll EM, Jacobsen N, Hensten-Pettersen A. Health hazards associated with curing light in the dental clinic. Clin Oral Investig. 2004. 8:113–117.
15. Labrie D, Moe J, Price RB, Young ME, Felix CM. Evaluation of ocular hazards from 4 types of curing lights. J Can Dent Assoc. 2011. 77:b116.
16. Centers for disease control and prevention. Work related hearing loss. NIOSH publication number 2001-103. Accessed on February 17, 2012. Available at www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2001-103/.
17. Katz J. Handbook of clinical audiology. 1985. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.
18. OSHA. Department of Labor occupational noise exposure.1983; CFR29, 1910.95. Accessed on February 16, 2012. http://www.OSHA.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standars&p_id=9735.
19. Szymanska J. Work-related noise hazards in the dental surgery. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2000. 7:67–70.
20. Mojarad F, Massum T, Samavat H. Noise levels in dental offices and laboratories in Hamedan, Iran. J Dent (Tehran). 2009. 6:181–186.
21. Hensten-Pettersen A, Jacobsen N. Perceived side effects of biomaterials in prosthetic dentistry. J Prosthet Dent. 1991. 65:138–144.
22. Rossow B, Koppang R. Elution of cadmium from dentures. Scand J Dent Res. 1975. 83:187–188.
23. Morgenroth K, Kronenberger H, Michalke G, Schnabel R. Morphology and pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis in dental technicians. Pathol Res Pract. 1985. 179:528–536.
24. Haberman AL, Pratt M, Storrs FJ. Contact dermatitis from beryllium in dental alloys. Contact Dermatitis. 1993. 28:157–162.
25. Fodor I. Histogenesis of beryllium-induced bone tumours. Acta Morphol Acad Sci Hung. 1977. 25:99–105.
26. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin (1999, September 2): Preventing Adverse Health Effects from Exposure to Beryllium on the Job. Accessed on February 16, 2012. Available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/beryllium/index.html.
27. Kim TS, Kim HA, Heo Y, Park Y, Park CY, Roh YM. Level of silica in the respirable dust inhaled by dental technicians with demonstration of respirable symptoms. Ind Health. 2002. 40:260–265.
28. Choudat D. Occupational lung diseases among dental technicians. Tuber Lung Dis. 1994. 75:99–104.
29. Woody RD, Huget EF, Cutright DE. Characterization of airborne particles from irreversible hydrocolloids. J Am Dent Assoc. 1977. 94:501–504.
30. Roberta T, Federico M, Federica B, Antonietta CM, Sergio B, Ugo C. Study of the potential cytotoxicity of dental impression materials. Toxicol In Vitro. 2003. 17:657–662.
31. Turjanmaa K, Alenius H, Mäkinen-Kiljunen S, Reunala T, Palosuo T. Natural rubber latex allergy. Allergy. 1996. 51:593–602.
32. Lönnroth EC. Toxicity of medical glove materials: a pilot study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2005. 11:131–139.
33. Bentley CD, Burkhart NW, Crawford JJ. Evaluating spatter and aerosol contamination during dental procedures. J Am Dent Assoc. 1994. 125:579–584.
34. Szymańska J. Occupational hazards of dentistry. Ann Agric Environ Med. 1999. 6:13–19.
35. Ireland AJ, Moreno T, Price R. Airborne particles produced during enamel cleanup after removal of orthodontic appliances. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2003. 124:683–686.
36. Jennings KJ, Samaranayake LP. The persistence of microorganisms on impression materials following disinfection. Int J Prosthodont. 1991. 4:382–387.
37. McNeill MR, Coulter WA, Hussey DL. Disinfection of irreversible hydrocolloid impressions: a comparative study. Int J Prosthodont. 1992. 5:563–567.
38. Egusa H, Watamoto T, Abe K, Kobayashi M, Kaneda Y, Ashida S, Matsumoto T, Yatani H. An analysis of the persistent presence of opportunistic pathogens on patient-derived dental impressions and gypsum casts. Int J Prosthodont. 2008. 21:62–68.
39. Bolyard EA, Tablan OC, Williams WW, Pearson ML, Shapiro CN, Deithman SD. Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for infection control in health care personnel, 1998. Am J Infect Control. 1998. 26:289–354.
40. Atlas RM, Williams JF, Huntington MK. Legionella contamination of dental-unit waters. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1995. 61:1208–1213.
41. Harutunian K, Gargallo-Albiol J, Figueiredo R, Gay-Escoda C. Ergonomics and musculoskeletal pain among postgraduate students and faculty members of the School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona (Spain). A cross-sectional study. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2011. 16:e425–e429.
42. Alexopoulos EC, Stathi IC, Charizani F. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2004. 5:16.
43. Milerad E, Ericson MO, Nisell R, Kilbom A. An electromyographic study of dental work. Ergonomics. 1991. 34:953–962.
44. Fish DR, Morris-Allen DM. Musculoskeletal disorders in dentists. N Y State Dent J. 1998. 64:44–48.
45. Al Wazzan KA, Almas K, Al Shethri SE, Al-Qahtani MQ. Back & neck problems among dentists and dental auxiliaries. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2001. 2:17–30.
46. Kay EJ, Lowe JC. A survey of stress levels, self-perceived health and health-related behaviours of UK dental practitioners in 2005. Br Dent J. 2008. 204:E19.
47. Rankin JA, Harris MB. Comparison of stress and coping in male and female dentists. J Dent Pract Adm. 1990. 7:166–172.
48. Occupational Safety & Health Administration. About OSHA. Accessed on April 20, 2012. Available at http://www.osha.gov/about.html.
49. Puttaiah R, Lin S. Evaluation of ozonated water for controlling dental treatment water contamination. 2006. 1371. IADR Abstract.
Full Text Links
  • JAP
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr