title: Quantifiable risk in dentistry--a letter to the profession.
abstract: Recent attention to certain worries such as the AIDS "epidemic," biofilms in dental unit water lines, and hepatitis C have resulted in unbalanced and often inappropriate action by dentists and public health authorities. These actions include exaggerating, underestimating, and ignoring risks in the dental environment. To be effective and responsible practitioners, we must recognize reality and proportion, concentrate resources on the greatest problems, and seek dependable epidemiology. Infection control issues are an important application for this form of evidence-based science.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Neiburger
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures