Hepatitis B virus infections among Danish dentists.
Since type B hepatitis is generally regarded as an occupational risk for dentists, the participants at the 1976 annual meeting of the Danish Dental Association were examined for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). A total of 1,338 dentists (89% of the dentists at the meeting and 29% of all Danish dentists) were included in the study by completion of a questionnaire and by radioimmunoassay of a blood sample for HGsAg and anti-HBs. None of the dentists was HBsAg-positive, but 110 (8.2%) had anti-HBs. An increasing frequency of anti-HBs was found with increasing age, but the figures were similar to the findings in a control population. Evidence is presented that hepatitis found before admittance to or during the time at dental school was predominantly not of type B. In contrast, type B hepatitis predominated during the professional activity of the dentists. On the basis of the serological findings in 29% of all Danish dentists, it is concluded that dentists cannot be regarded as a high-risk group for hepatitis B.
D000375:Aging; D003718:Denmark; D003815:Dentists; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens