Risk factors for health in medical workers of modern dental practice (literature review)

Abstract

The analysis of the data of foreign and domestic literature devoted to the main risk factors for health is carried out and presented, the diseases of medical workers of modern dental practice that are more common at present are studied and described. A distinctive feature of the work of practicing dentists is the influence on their body of a complex of unfavourable factors of the production environment of occupational and non-occupational genesis (biological, chemical, physical and factors of the labour process). It is also common for them to be affected by the intensity of the labour process, which is expressed by significant psycho-emotional stress. Dentists are often at high risk of infection and transmission of dangerous pathogens: viruses (herpes, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C, including new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)), bacteria (staphylococcus, tuberculosis), fungi. They have a high prevalence of injuries to the visual organ and upper extremities, allergic reactions. Among dental personnel in countries using amalgam during work, changes in neuropsychiatric reactions, memory loss, and fatigue are described; changes in biochemical parameters of blood, urine analysis are revealed. Physiological and ergonomic loads of dental service specialists and uncomfortable postures associated with work lead to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the appearance of pain, and affect their quality of life. Despite the harmlessness of the noise level in modern dentistry, the sounds produced by devices at work affect the mental health of dentists. Dental professionals with long work experience are predisposed to the highest risk of hearing loss. Today, dentists continue to show carpal tunnel syndrome and rarely vibration disease from exposure to local vibration. Medical workers of modern dental practice are shown to be affected by a complex of unfavourable factors of the low-intensity production environment and develop diseases associated with their occupational activities.