Assessing the risk of Hepatitis Transmission in Dental practice

Abstract

Viral hepatitis is a major global public health concern and remains a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Research available through PubMed, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the American Dental Association (ADA) shows that dental healthcare professionals have an increased occupational risk of exposure to hepatitis viruses. Routine dental procedures frequently involve contact with blood, saliva, and other potentially infectious body fluids. Transmission can occur through direct or indirect contact with contaminated instruments, needle-stick injuries, blood splashes, droplets, and aerosols generated during dental treatment. The effective infection prevention depends on strict adherence to standard infection control practices. These include proper sterilization and disinfection of dental instruments, consistent use of personal protective equipment, safe handling and disposal of sharps, and complete hepatitis B vaccination of all dental personnel. A major part of the universal precautions for reducing the risk of hepatitis transmission is to treat all patients as potential carriers of blood-borne pathogens.