![]() With CadCam technologies, professionals can digitally design and control manufacturing.ĭental professionals use CadCam software to draw and design a prosthesis from 3D images. Used to design and manufacture dental prosthesis, CadCam manufacturing (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) allows the production of complex pieces to be produced in small offices. If inhaled, dental aerosols can lead to nasal congestion, headaches, asthmatic episodes and respiratory illnesses such as influenza and COVID-19. This gas can carry a number of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungus as well as endotoxins and toxins. Dental AerosolsĪnother factor contributing to poor air quality, dental aerosols have the potential to promote disease transmission and infection.ĭental instruments such as ultrasonic scalers, low and high-speed handpieces, air polishers and lasers all create dental aerosols by compressing air and water to form a suspension of liquid and solid particles in a gas. Standalone air purification systems offer an effective way to maintain clean air quality in dental offices and laboratories. They also fail to protect workers from airborne particulates transmitted through the HVAC system. Source control devices used in dental laboratories reduce machine created contaminants, but do not eliminate them. Disinfectants used to clean and sterilize offices produce toxins as well, as does the water purification process. Other harmful chemicals used in the dental industry include: solvents, denatured alcohol, resins, fillers, casting alloys, polishes and nitrogen oxide. The legal airborne PEL as regulated by OSHA is 0.1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour work shift. Repeated, long-term exposure can result in mercury poisoning, the symptoms of which include tremors, personality changes, trouble with concentration and memory and gum problems. Exposure, whether through inhalation or the skin, can lead to a number of adverse health problems including: Also on OSHA’s Special Hazardous Substance List, mercury is highly toxic. The chemicals from dental amalgams, specifically mercury, can also negatively impact air quality. The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) allowed by OSHA is 100 parts per million (ppm) averaged over an 8 hour work shift.īut the list of dangerous chemicals used in the dental industry does not stop there. The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) recognizes methyl methacrylate as a hazardous substance and regulates its use. Lab technicians also use methyl methacrylate in the fabrication of dentures and other prostheses. Possible damage to fetuses, liver and kidneys.Difficulty with concentration and memory.Inhaling these chemicals long-term can lead to skin rash as well as occupational asthma, reduced lung function and pulmonary edema. Short term exposure can lead to irritation of the ear, nose, throat or skin. ![]() When dentists drill and fill cavities, they release these compounds into the air in the form of dust and fumes. Two common chemicals found in dentistry, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate, are highly volatile and can have serious health consequences if inhaled. CadCam Dental Milling, used to make dental prostheses, creates dust and contaminants that pose inhalation hazards. ![]() The dental practices of drilling, filling cavities, scaling and polishing not only have the potential to release harmful chemicals into the air, but also dangerous pathogens as well. The dental industry employs a number of applications that can adversely affect the health of their employees as well as their clients. To ensure a healthy environment for both patients and staff, dental professionals must employ multiple strategies to manage and capture airborne toxins and pathogens. But source control devices fail to capture all contaminants produced and HVAC systems function only to keep indoor temperature at comfortable levels. Most dental laboratories and offices rely only on source control devices and their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maintain clean air. Dental assistants came in fifth, dental laboratory technicians fourth, general dentists second and dental hygienists first due to exposure to contaminants, disease and radiation. Department of Labor placed prosthodontists as the seventh most unhealthy job in America. Without the use of proper air filtration systems, working as a dental professional can be one of the most hazardous jobs to one’s health. Even simple dental procedures such as cavity drilling and filling can release harmful chemicals into the air as well as promote disease transmission and spread. Professionals in the dental industry face a number of challenges when it comes to maintaining good air quality in their offices and labs.
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