Hepatitis. A review of the disease and its significance to dentistry.
The report is a review of the literature related to hepatitis B and its implications for dental practitioners. Hepatitis B represents a serious health risk among dentists and simple preventive measures can greatly reduce the risk of transmission or contraction of the disease. Certain positive findings in a healthy history should alert the dentist that he may be treating a carrier of hepatitis B. If so, the wearing of gloves, a mask and protective eyewear will almost totally protect one from contracting the disease. To guard against transmission of hepatitis B to other patients in the dental practice, all instruments should be sterilized and all environmental surfaces should be appropriately treated. A person with a confirmed exposure to hepatitis B should be inoculated with immune serum globulin.
D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State; D003729:Dental Care; D003815:Dentists; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens