Allsopp J, Basu M K, Browne R M, Burge P S, Matthews J B
Unit of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham.
Occup Environ Med. 1997 Feb;54(2):125-34. doi: 10.1136/oem.54.2.125.
Dental instruments such as the right angle or straight handpiece, air turbine, and ultrasonic scaler have the ability to produce dental aerosols containing water, saliva, microorganisms, blood, tooth particles, lubricating oil, and restorative materials. The purpose of this study was to find out whether personal protective equipment (mask, glasses) was used by dental personnel, and to investigate possible work related disease in the dental profession.
Cross sectional data were collected with a self administered questionnaire sent to 69 randomly chosen general dental practices in the West Midlands Region. All members of the dental team completed questionnaires (dentists (n = 122); nurses (n = 115); hygienists (n = 86); and receptionists (n = 74) and answered questions on use of personal protective equipment and the prevalence of upper and lower respiratory tract, eye, and skin symptoms (reported and work related). Reception staff were included as a low exposure, control group. Also, a longitudinal study of dental hygienists was carried out on 31 people who had taken part in a similar study five years earlier.
Use of a face mask and glasses differed between clinical groups with hygienists and nurses being the most and least prevalent users respectively. Although several reported symptoms were significantly more prevalent among clinical staff, only one work related symptom (skin rashes or itchy or dry skin) was reported by the clinical staff more than by the non-clinical receptionists. Among female clinical staff, age < 35 years and atopy were the factors that predisposed to work related symptoms. Also, reported symptoms were related to duration of use of instruments that generated aerosols.
This study shows a low level of work related symptoms in dentistry, but highlights a group vulnerable to prolonged exposures to dental aerosols. It also supports the need for enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment among dental nurses.
诸如直角或直机头、气涡轮机和超声波洁牙器等牙科器械能够产生含有水、唾液、微生物、血液、牙齿颗粒、润滑油和修复材料的牙科气溶胶。本研究的目的是了解牙科工作人员是否使用个人防护装备（口罩、眼镜），并调查牙科行业中可能与工作相关的疾病。
通过向西米德兰兹地区随机选择的69家普通牙科诊所发送自填式问卷收集横断面数据。牙科团队的所有成员都完成了问卷（牙医（n = 122）；护士（n = 115）；口腔保健员（n = 86）；以及接待员（n = 74）），并回答了关于个人防护装备的使用以及上、下呼吸道、眼睛和皮肤症状（报告的和与工作相关的）的患病率的问题。接待人员作为低暴露对照组被纳入。此外，对31名五年前参加过类似研究的口腔保健员进行了纵向研究。
临床组之间口罩和眼镜的使用情况有所不同，口腔保健员和护士分别是最常使用和最不常使用的人群。尽管临床工作人员中报告的几种症状明显更为普遍，但只有一种与工作相关的症状（皮疹或皮肤瘙痒或干燥）临床工作人员的报告多于非临床接待员。在女性临床工作人员中，年龄<35岁和特应性是易患与工作相关症状的因素。此外，报告的症状与产生气溶胶的器械的使用时间有关。
本研究表明牙科中与工作相关的症状水平较低，但突出了一组易长时间暴露于牙科气溶胶的人群。它还支持在牙科护士中强制使用个人防护装备的必要性。
