The Opinion of Dental Technology Students about the Harmful Effects of the Materials Used During Practical Training and Means of Prevention

Abstract

In the process of training in the special academic disciplines dental technology students are exposed to the harmful effects of various materials, volatile substances and dust particles. All of above can cause allergies, diseases of the respiratory system, neurological diseases, etc. The purpose of the present article is to study whether the students of the “Dental Technician” Educational Sector are familiar with the fact that some of the materials used in their practical training have a harmful effect on the body as well as to give information about means of prevention students can use. A sociological method using a specially designed for the purpose questionnaire was used to achieve the goal of this scientific study. The survey was conducted using Google forms in June 2023 and was distributed among first, second and third year (62.39 % in the study stage) Dental Technology students at the Medical College subordinate to the Medical University of Varna. For the presentation of the results a graphical analysis was used. It was found that a very large number of students know about the harmful effects of some of the materials they work with and more than half of them are worried about their health; not all of the students use protective equipment and there are some who do not use protective equipment at all ( 12.20 %). The following recommendations have been made to the educational institution and to the respondents based on the results, the conclusions and the students’ suggestions: it is recommended that the aducational laboratories are equipped with a central and individual aspiration system (for each working space), aspiration above worktops and fireplaces, hoppers for crushing the packaging mass when releasing the cast dental structure; students are also adviced to use personal protective equipment – uniforms, protective gloves, glasses, masks, helmets.