Dental assistant

There appear also to be toxic effects. In animals, nitrous oxide has been shown to inactivate methionine synthetase which prevents the conversion of deoxyuridine to thymidine and thus has the potential for inducing megaloblastic anemia, leukopenia, and teratogenicity (44—46). A variety of epidemiologic surveys suggest positive correlations between exposure to nitrous oxide and spontaneous abortion in dental assistants (47). 

A.S. Rowland, et al., Reduced fertility among women employed as dental assistants exposed to high levels of nitrous oxide. N. Engl. J. Med. 327 993-997, 1992. 

Yellowish-brown staining of the teeth was related to imi-penem in several cases (26,27). Staining was mostly removable with dental assistance. 

Nitrous oxide may be the most serious of anesthetic pollutants female dental assistants exposed to large amounts of nitrous oxide (5 hours or more of exposure per week) are significantly less fertile than women who are not exposed or who are exposed to lower amounts (90). 

Would you like to mix polymers, process X rays, and help a dentist care for people s teeth If so, you might become a dental assistant... 

While dental hygienists clean teeth, dental assistants work directly with the dentist. They prepare and sterilize instruments, remove sutures, mix adhesives, prepare fillings, make casts of teeth, and create temporary crowns. 

Female dentists and dental assistants exposed to metallic mercury vapors had increased reproductive failures (spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and congenital malformations) and irregular, painful, or hemorrhagic menstrual disorders (Sikorski et al. 1987). Correlations were observed between the incidence of these effects and hair mercury levels. 

Additional epidemiological studies on inhalation and dermal exposure to mercury are needed to evaluate the threshold of reproductive effects in workers (including dentists and dental assistants). 

Ayyadurai K, Krishnashamy V. 1988. A study of mercury concentration in nails, hair, and urine of dentists, dental assistants and non-dental personnel. J Environ Biol 9(3) 281-282. 

Rowland AS, Baird DD, Weinberg CR, et al. 1994. The effect of occupational exposure to mercury vapour on the fertility of female dental assistants [see comments], Occup Environ Med 5 l(l) 28-34. 

Verschoor MA, Herber R FM, Zielhuis RL. 1988. Urinary mercury levels and early changes in kidney function in dentists and dental assistants. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 16(3) 148-152. 

Votaw AL, Zey J. 1991. Vacuuming a mercury-contaminated dental office may be hazardous to your health. The Dental Assistant January/February 27-29. 

The prevalence of occupational contact urticaria during a 5-year period per 100,000 employed workers is given in Table 4. Bakers, food-processing workers, dental assistants, veterinary surgeons, domestic animal attendants, farmers, chefs, cooks, cold-buffet managers and dairy workers had the highest prevalence (Table 4). 

The following chapter describes different aspects of occupational contact dermatitis of dental personnel. In particular, occupational skin problems of dentists, dental assistants, dental technicians and orthodontists will be discussed. 

This rubber vulcanization accelerator is used as a chemical in the rubber industry, especially in the production of synthetic rubber articles. Is contained in the mercapto mix . As a corrosion inhibitor, it can be found in cutting fluids or in releasing fluids in the pottery industry. It induces mainly delayed-type hypersensitivity, but a case of immediate-type hypersensitivity was reported in a dental assistant. 

The crosslinking agent of acrylic resins, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), is employed to optimize the dilution of high-viscosity monomers and to link together the macromolecules costituting the polymer. It caused contact dermatitis in dental technicians and dental assistants. A case was also reported in a car rear-view mirror manufacturer. 

Occupational exposure to mercury vapor occurs in a variety of industries such as chloralkali plants, thermometer factories, gold extraction process, and mercury mining. Dentists and dental assistants are also exposed to mercury vapor during insertion, polishing, and removal of amalgam fillings. 

In table 3 through the comparison of the ATP values obtained among occupation showed that dentists have an average value of 1136.57 RLU and dental assistants an average of 1634.83 RLU. The... 

By the graphic 1 it was found that 25% of the dentists are below the threshold value, however 75% is above the threshold value of 500 RLU. As for the dental assistants the majority exceeded the limit value, although 25% were close to it, slightly exceeding the value of 500 RLU. 

Through the results analysis we can notice that in general dentists and their dental assistants responded correctly to most questions about hand... 

Through the bioluminescence method it was possible to quantify ATP levels in the hands of dentists and their respective dental assistants in real time and performed quickly. 500 RLU was established as the threshold reference to the readings of ATP. From the results it was found that of the 13 measurements carried out it was obtained an average value of 1366.54 RLU with standard deviation of 1186.87 RLU which exceeds the reference value. Dentists have obtained an average of 1136.57 RLU and the dental assistants 1634.83 RLU. On average both exceed the limit of reference value, which can be consequence of several causes such as improper hand hygiene, ineffectiveness of products used for hand hygiene and contact with contaminated surfaces. 

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