title: Self-reported occupational dermatological reactions among Danish dentists.
abstract: The aims of the study were to investigate the causes and prevalences of occupational dermatological reactions among Danish dentists. Questionnaires and telephone interviews with Danish dentists revealed that 37.8% reported skin reactions. In 27.2% of the cases the reactions were related to occupation, occurring with a point prevalence of 9.6%, and with a 1-yr period prevalence of 21.4%. The main causes were hand washing/soaps, latex gloves and (di)methacrylate-containing materials occurring at point prevalences of 7.1%, 1.3% and 1.7%, respectively. In addition, several other causes were reported, each occurring at relatively low frequency. Diagnosed allergic latex eczema was reported by 0.6%, but the frequency might be more than 2%, estimated on basis of reported symptoms. Allergic eczema caused by (di)methacrylate-containing materials was diagnosed among 0.7%, but estimated by the description of symptoms to be nearly 2%. The results urge for developing safer materials for dental use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. ECM@odont.ku.dk
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Munksgaard
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Engen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Holm
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003815:Dentists; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000009:adverse effects; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects; D012915:Soaps / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D007840:Latex; D008689:Methacrylates; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D012915:Soaps