In a recent review article published in the journal Dental Clinics of North America, Leslie R. Halpern, DDS, MD, PhD, MPH, from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, highlights vaccine-preventable diseases that pose a high risk in the dental healthcare setting.
Noting the global increase in transmissible vectors of infectious diseases, Dr. Halpern emphasizes that oral healthcare professionals are at high risk for transmission of significant bacterial and viral microorganisms, in particular because of their encounters with sharp instruments. “[D]entists experience puncture wounds by needles more than any other healthcare specialist,” she writes. However, studies continue to show that many dentists still do not use personal protective equipment to protect against exposure to infections.
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Other areas of dentistry to be concerned about? Cyber attacks – read more here.
