Occupational risks and biosafety in dentistry

Abstract

Introduction: the health of workers is an important aspect and within dentistry there are multiple risks to which professionals are exposed. With technological changes, updates on the subject arise with increasing frequency. Objective: to describe current trends related to occupational risk factors to which teachers, students and administrative staff present in dental clinic practices are exposed. Method: a bibliographic review was carried out that included the analysis of research results on the topic related to occupational risks in dentistry. Databases such as Scopus, Scielo, Pubmed, Google Scholar and thesis repositories were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were established. Development: in dental practice, different occupational risks have been identified that are classified into four groups: ergonomic, biological, chemical and psychosocial. Professionals are sometimes unaware of safety regulations or do not comply with them, which makes them vulnerable to accidents or contracting diseases due to the high level of contamination in dental offices. Continuous exposure to occupational risks can affect stability and productivity, as well as the quality of services. Conclusions: There are multiple occupational risks to which dentists can be exposed, so it is necessary to know each one of them and how to prevent their consequences on health. It should be taken into account that occupational risks can affect the quality of services and the satisfaction of patients and workers.