OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS IN
DENTISTRY
PRESENTED BY : RAJESHWARI.G
3RD YEAR BDS
DEPARTMENT OF PHD
SYNOPSIS :
• INTRODUCTION
• TYPES
• BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
- Microbes
- Potential biological hazards
- Preventive strategies
• CHEMICAL HAZARDS
- Chemical agents
- Potential chemical hazards
- Preventive strategies
• CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
• Occupational hazards can be defined as a risk to a person
usually arising out of employment
• Dental workers may be exposed to a variety of work place
hazards
• Type and degree of exposure is dependent upon the
- Type of service
- Type of patient
- Specific task performed
• Keys to prevent occupational exposure is :
- To identify
-Assess the hazards
- Determine appropriate controls
TYPES
The occupational hazards in dentistry may be classified as :
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZARDS
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
• Dental patients and dental health care workers
(DHCW) maybe exposed to various
microorganisms
• The following are the main entry points of
infection :
- Epidermis of hands
- Oral epithelium
- Nasal epithelium
- Epithelium of upper airways, bronchial tubes,
alveoli
- Conjunctival epithelium
MICROBES
The biological hazards are constituted by infectious
agents of human origin &
It includes
- Prions
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Fungi
INFECTIOUS AGENTS
EFFECTS
VIRAL AGENTS TRANSMISSION TO
HUMAN
Directly (cut I- Hepatitis
1. hepadnaviridae infections) through frequently in form of
virus of hepatitis B blood, blood serum& chronic cirrhosis
other body fluids C- hepatic carcinoma
(HBV)
2. herepesviridae Directly through I- Herpes vesicular
kissing ( type 1) inflammation of
Herpes simplex virus Through sexual tunica mucosa of
(HSV) intercourse ( type 2) oral cavity, skin
inflammation
3. Retroviridae Directly through I – AIDS, atrophy of
human blood, sexual cellular immunity
immunodeficiency intercourse homo & through destruction
virus (type – HIV1 & heterosexual) of lymphocyte
HIV2) through placenta to C- Neoplasm – Kaposi
fetus sarcoma
BACTERIAL TRANSMISSION TO
AGENTS HUMANS EFFECTS ORGANISM
1. Mycobacterium Droplets coughed or Oral lesions at any
Tuberculosis sneezed into air site of mucous
membrane but
tongue is most
commonly affected
2. Actinomyces Orally, air, droplet I – Localized juvenile
Israeli periodontitis (LJP)
3. Bacteroides Endogenic resulting Pneumonia, oral
fragilis from operations, cavity, inflammation,
bites periodontitis,
dermatitis,
septicaemia
TRANSMISSION EFFECTS ON
FUNGAL TO HUMAN HUMANS ORGANISM
AGENTS
Candida albicans
(imperfect fungi, Directly I – Candidiasis of
anascogenic yeasts) skin, nails, oral
cavity
A – endogenic
allergic reactions
Candida tropicalis Directly
I – candidiasis of
oral cavity, nail,
skin, vagina
PRIONS TRANSMISSION EFFECTS ON
TO HUMAN HUMANS
1. Prions Directly Creutzfeldt Jacob’s
( cut, infections ) disease
POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
• Exposure to environmental biological containment from
- Ventilation system
- Water
- Food
• To respiratory infectious diseases through droplet transmission,
including
- Splatters from body fluids
- Protective while using speed devices
• To biological agents in blood and saliva of patients through contact
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES
• Obtain medical history of patients
• No recapping of needles
• Immunization program
• Compliance with all infection prevention and
control practices
• Proper disinfection of instruments
• Worker education
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
• Chemical hazards are on the increase the
introduction of newer and complex chemicals
• Many of these chemicals are among those
whose health effects may not be known
• May pose health problem taking years to
manifest
• Biomaterials & auxilliary products used in
dentistry are chemically reactive
Chemical agents act in three
way
LOCAL INHALATION INGESTION
ACTION
i) Dusts Chemical
Causes dermatitis, causes silicosis, substance like
eczema, ulcer & anthrosis mercury, zinc,
even cancer by ii) Gases methylacrylate
(primary irritation anaesthetic gases ( swallowed in
action) eg: chloroform, minute amount
trichloroethylene through
iii) Metals contaminated
mercury, chromium, hands, food)
beryllium (toxic effects)
CHEMICAL AGENTS
1. Gases
NH2, CO2
2. Dusts
(i) Inorganic dusts
(a) asbestos – asbestosis
(b) Silica – Silicosis
(ii) Organic dusts
tobacco – tobacossis
3. Metals & their compounds - mercury, beryllium, chromium, arsen
4. Chemicals – Acids, alkalies
5. Solvents – xylene, chloroform etc
MERCURY
• Mercury is an element of mystery, which in its metallic form is an enticing silvery
liquid that is as fascinating as it is dangerous
• Its use in dental amalgam as the potential for continuous occupational exposure of
a dental practitioner to mercurial vapour which can be absorbed via skin and the
lungs.
• Mercury is hazardous not only to dental personnel but also to the environment
MERCURY POISONING :
• It can be characterized by tumors of the face, arms or
legs
• It can also be associated with progressive, tremulous illegible
handwriting and slurred speech
• The active component in mercurial vapour has a particular affinity for
brain tissue
LATEX GLOVE
• latex gloves dusted with cornstarch powder are most often
used
• it forms an efficient barrier against most pathogens
• They also constitute a very good barrier against viruses,
provided they are intact
• Most of the professionals are allergic to this product
LATEX HYPERSENSITIVTY :
* The continued use of powdered natural rubbered latex
(NRL) gloves & disinfectants has predisposed clinical dental
workers to hand dermatitis, allergic dermatitis
* Most serious potential hazards associated with the
continued use of powdered NRL gloves in dental practice is
latex sensitization caused by exposure to aerosolized NRL
protein
POTENTIAL CHEMICAL HAZARDS
Exposure to :
mercury when handling mercury containing amalgams
latex from contact with latex gloves
variety of disinfecting and cleaning agents in routine
cleaning activities
methyl methacrylate used as a filler
various metals or silica
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES
• Substitution with less harmful product
• Maintain adequate general ventilation
• Medical monitoring of workers
• Ensure good hygiene practice
• Local exhaust ventilation when removing old
amalgams
• Ready to use concentrations to minimize
handling
CONCLUSION
Dental health workers are exposed to many
occupational hazards ranging from the threats of
infectious disease, toxicity to chemicals used in
dentistry
One thing should kept in mind that every technology
no matter how beneficial can exert a negative
impact
Serious infection due to percutaneous exposure
incidents (PEI) can be avoided by use of appropriate
barrier techniques and high level sterilization
