Injuries Caused by Infectious Diseases

This matter became more visible in the years of dealing with Covid-19. In addition to COVID-19, diseases such as syphilis and AIDS and types of hepatitis such as hepatitis A in dentistry are some of the major concerns in this field. These diseases can be transmitted to the doctor, and if health issues are not observed, there is a possibility of transmission to the next patient.

Blood, saliva, and exhalation of patients are among the factors of transmission of these viruses. As a top dentist near New Westminster explains, because patients keep their mouths open all the time and it is associated with bleeding, the possibility of a dentist contracting these diseases is felt several times. This can make the dentist face serious risks of contracting infectious diseases.

Bacterial and viral infections are very common and are easily spread through liquid splashes, airborne particles when using aerosol instruments, and through surfaces in dental treatment areas. Dentists are also susceptible to blood-borne pathogens, particularly through needles and syringes. There is always a risk of transmission, and dental professionals must take appropriate precautions to prevent it.

Physical Injuries

Dentistry has a lot of repetitive work. During the treatment, it is not uncommon for the body to tense up and the body to move into unnatural positions. Keeping the body in these positions for a long time can cause musculoskeletal problems in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, elbows, and wrists.

There are simple methods for dentists to position their patients and prevent musculoskeletal problems properly. It all comes down to the patient’s situation. For dentists to maintain the best ergonomic position when working behind the patient’s upper arch, the patient should be positioned in such a way that the occlusal plane of the upper arch is 20-25 degrees behind the vertical. Using an eye loupe can prevent these problems to a large extent.

Dental Poisoning

“Amalgam” is one of the dental filling materials that contains mercury. It should be said that although there is almost no possibility of mercury being released from inside the amalgam. Therefore, there is no danger to the patients who are filling and repairing their teeth; there is a possibility of poisoning the dentists and their assistants who deal with compounds such as amalgam for several hours every day, it’s a lot.

On the other hand, because mercury vapor has no color, taste, or smell, it is not possible to detect poisoning with it easily. It may not be bad to know that the importance of the danger of mercury poisoning is so great that a pure drop of it can saturate the entire air of the office. Of course, it should be emphasized that the amount of mercury used in dental offices to fill teeth is not that much. Which causes such side effects, but to eliminate the risk of mercury poisoning, the air inside the office must be well-ventilated, and all excess mercury, such as used capsules and amalgam fragments, must be collected and placed in unbreakable containers that are completely closed. It can be kept.

Dangerous Rays

Radiography is one of the diagnostic solutions in dentistry, and the dentist and his assistant are exposed to unwanted X-ray radiation due to their constant presence in the vicinity of the radiography machine. To protect against radiation, solutions such as hammering the walls of the radiography room with lead, adjusting the dose of radiation, and observing the permitted distance are suggested, which dentists are required to follow.