Abstract
ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of contact sensitization to metals used in dental practice among students of dental medicine, students from a dental technician school, dental professionals and patients. A total of 128 participants: 28 dental professionals, 40 students of dental medicine, 38 students from a dental technician school and 22 patients without occupational exposure to metals, were patch tested with potassium dichromate, cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, copper(II)sulfate pentahydrate, palladium(II)chloride, aluminium(III)chloride hexahydrate, gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate, tin and nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate. The main metal allergens for students of dental medicine were cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate, nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate and potassium dichromate; for students from the dental technician school – cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate and gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate; for dental professionals – cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, palladium(II)chloride and nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate, and for dental patients – cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate, nickel(II)sulfate hexahydrate and copper(II)sulfate pentahydrate. There was a significantly higher incidence of sensitization to potassium dichromate (χ2 = 10.497, p = 0.012), palladium(II)chloride (χ2 = 5.381, p = 0.02) and gold(I)sodium thiosulfate dehydrate (χ2 = 6.347, p = 0.018) in the group of students of dental medicine. Our findings confirm the importance of cobalt(II)chloride hexahydrate as contact sensitizer for all the studied groups. Students of dental medicine could be defined as a group of particular risk of contact sensitization with metals. We recommend that knowledge on the sensitizing properties of metals be provided at the very beginning of the course of practical education in dentistry, together with application of adequate preventive measures.
Highlights
Numerous chemical substances, many of which both allergens and irritants being ingredients of various dental materials and medicines impose serious health risk for both dental professionals and dental patients
Contact sensitization to metals is a problem of growing importance for the overall population and its incidence is high: up to 17% of women and 3% of men are allergic to nickel and 1%–3%, to cobalt and chromium [1,2]
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of contact sensitization to selected metals relevant for the dental practice, among students of dental medicine, students from a dental technician school, dental professionals and patients in Bulgaria
Summary
Many of which both allergens and irritants being ingredients of various dental materials and medicines impose serious health risk for both dental professionals and dental patients. The occupational exposure of dental professionals starts as early as during the course of their practical education in dentistry. Contact sensitization to metals is a problem of growing importance for the overall population and its incidence is high: up to 17% of women and 3% of men are allergic to nickel and 1%–3%, to cobalt and chromium [1,2]. The main sources of consumer exposure to metal allergens are jewelry, piercings, buttons, dental restorations, leather goods, etc. Exposures to metals could be identified in numerous occupations, and health risk assessment of contact sensitization in such cases is of particular importance
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