title: Hand dermatitis in dental technicians.
abstract: The incidence of hand dermatitis and contact allergies was analyzed among dental technicians. A survey was carried out by postal questionnaire. It was returned by 106 technicians (88%); 30 had had skin problems, and 20 (19%) had present eruptions. All 20 were invited to a detailed dermatological investigation, but only seven participated. Epicutaneous tests to prosthetic materials were negative in these patients. The hand eruptions in 4 patients appeared to be irritant. 4 other patients (4%), who had had previous hand dermatitis, had a history of positive patch test reactions to methyl methacrylate, but they had become symptomless and refused to participate in further studies.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003800:Dental Technicians; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires