Raising Awareness of Occupational Risks in Dentistry for Healthcare

This report focuses on the occupational hazards within the field of dentistry and proposes preventive measures to improve the health and safety of oral healthcare professionals. The report addresses various aspects, including the significance of oral health, the impact of dental diseases, and the occupational risks faced by dentists. It identifies infectious hazards, such as exposure to viruses and sharp objects, and psychological hazards, like stress. The report emphasizes the need for awareness and the implementation of safety measures to mitigate these risks. It also includes a project plan, Gantt chart, and concludes with opportunities for further research, providing a comprehensive overview of the challenges and potential solutions in the dental healthcare environment. This report aims to inform dentists and oral healthcare professionals about these risks and to promote a safer working environment.

RAISING AWARENESS OF
THE OCCUPATIONAL
RISKS IN DENTISTRY TO
HELP IMPROVE HEALTH
AND SAFETY FOR THE
ORAL HEALTHCARE AT
WORK
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Report is focusing on the occupational hazards in the dentistry field and the preventive
measures are discussed in the report. Safety measures and oral health care facilities are discussed
in the report. It would improve the health of the people which are visiting the dentist.
Occupational hazards like the infectious hazards and psychological hazards as well.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
LR....................................................................................................................................................7
PROJECT PLAN...........................................................................................................................12
GANTT CHART...........................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH..........................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23
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INTRODUCTION
Oral health is basically the state of remain free from various chronic mouth as well as
facial pain, throat cancer, oral infections, periodontal disease and numerous other diseases which
eventually limits the capacity of individual in biting, speaking, chewing etc (Hashemipour,
2015). Oral healthcare has touched each and every aspect of the earth and has transformed the
lives of many individuals. The systematic diseases which affects overall body became apparent
in the beginning due to mouth lesions and other oral issues. No matter what the age is,
maintaining the oral health remains highly important for everyone. More than half of the
population of UK enjoys the outstanding oral health and thus keeps their teeth naturally alive
throughout the lives. It is extremely essential to carry put oral hygiene on the regular basis in
order to prevent wide range of dental diseases (Soares and et.al.,2015). Most common kind of
diseases related to dental are gum diseases as well as tooth decay including periodontitis,
gingivitis. Dental diseases not only affects the adults but most of the children also become prey
of these diseases and thus at very short age, they became dependent on medicines for the
treatment. Oral diseases are basically the most common and popular noncommunicable diseases
which affects people and thus causes pain, discomfort and sometimes even lead to death.
According to a report of 2016 published by Global disease burden, more than half the population
of entire world is estimated to be under the threat of oral diseases. Nearly 3.58 billion people
every year suffers from dental caries and thus this has become the most prevalent condition
across the whole world. In this century, every 7 out of 10 people are reported to be suffering
from various dental diseases whether it is minor like tooth decay or major like mouth cancer. In
various Asian countries, incidence of mouth cancer which mainly includes lip cancer along with
oral cavity is at the top among all other cancers. Severe periodontal disease results in the loss of
tooth and its incidence is estimated to be one of the most prevalent disease which has surrounded
not only adults but small kids as well (Firić and et.al.,2016). Some of the behavioral factors
which accounts for oral disorders like unhealthy diet, tobacco use, alcohol addition often results
in the high ratio of oral health diseases. The main reason behind its increasing prevalence is bad
oral hygiene together with inadequate fluoride exposure which eventually impacts oral health of
wide rage of people negatively.
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Significance
The major significance of studying the oral healthcare is to make dentists aware of the
numerous occupational risks and hazards and thus impart them knowledge about the prevention
of these risks (Adhikari and et.al., 2016). The oral health problems has been a buzz in the market
and have become one of the serious issue which has transformed entire world drastically. Having
a proper nutrition and the adequate treatment and preventive measures of thees oral diseases is
more important than treating any other disorder like cancer as mouth is the beginning of the body
where food enters thus keeping it hygienic and safe is essential and vital. It has been indicated
that teeth as well as gums are one of the main indicator of general health and thus shows the
potential problems that might occur to an individual. According to the report of WHO, more than
44% of the adults undergoes annual checkup and treatment but around 40% households avoid the
visit to dentist and or delay their visiting due to various reasons. As per Oral health and dental
care, every year large number of people suffers from dental caries including children and most of
them remain exposed to some or the other form of bacterial infections which results in tissue
inflammation (Oleksiak and et.al.,2015). Not only does the people remain exposed to various
dental caries but the dentist and oral health care professionals also becomes the prey of wide
range of occupational risks which impacts their health to a wide level. The major significance of
this study is to understand the scope as well as prevalence of various occupational risk and
problems which badly affects the health of dentist and oral professionals. Occupational hazards
basically are the disorders that are stimulated due to different conditions related to work. The
providers of oral healthcare are constantly getting predisposed to some occupational-related
disorders that when increases with the years. Another significance of this study is that it can be
certainly be used by various scholars and researchers for conducting their research. This will
provide an in-depth information to various scholars, healthcare providers, therapist, dentists
about the various occupational risks and their preventive measures. This will serve as the
secondary source of data from which information can be collected to study the prevalence of
various occupational risks. Along with this, another significance of this study is that it will show
various future constraints that might occur and thus can affect oral health care professionals if
preventive measure s are not taken on time (Gangwar and Kiran, 2016). It will help a wide range
of dental universities as well as dental clinics and hospital to become aware of measures which
they should take while performing their work or while treating the patient.
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Thus, this study carries a wide range of significance and can be used for further studies
by medical students or professionals. This report will provide a brief about numerous
occupational risks as well as preventive measure that should be taken for overcoming these risks.
Besides this, it will also cover various future outcomes and the strategies.
Justification
The diseases and disorders related to the oral have become prevalent and thus have
impacted the entire world. The various occupational risks and threats which are being faced by
dentist, therapist, oral healthcare professionals have become a hot topic across the whole world
as it has lead to degradation of wide range of workers and dentists (Petrović and et.al.,2016). The
dentists come across the wide range of risks and hazards at their workplace which eventually not
only affects their physical health but also poses great impact on their mental health. The major
rationale behind choosing this topic is to make the dentists and oral healthcare professionals
aware about the various risks and hazards which they encounter and educating the students
studying dentistry regarding various risks which they might face at their workplace. Besides this,
another main reason for studying this topic is to design various preventive measure as well as
diagnosis steps which the oral healthcare professionals should undertake while treating patients
or performing their work (Aghahi, Darabi and Hashemipour, 2018). As the various risks and
hazard which are being faced by dentists during their wok affects their health in different ways
thus it becomes highly important to know the reason behind these problems and implement
proper monitoring system to overcome these problems. The major purpose of this study is to
assess various musculoskeleton problems and how they are associated with the working pattern
of dentists and oral healthcare professionals. Dental professionals are mainly predisposed to rage
of occupational hazards which sometimes even lead to frustration, irritability and decreases their
mental ability. Hence, providing the dentist appropriate working environment which ensures
their health and safety at workplace becomes essential and is the major purpose of this study.
Increasing the knowledge and awareness level of the dental professionals regarding these hazards
and providing them the various ways through which these risks can be mitigated or removed
forms the core rationale behind this study. Dentistry is considered as one of the profession which
often leads dentist to high level of stress and sometimes results in their exposure to various
ailments thus having a proper and well-designed structure and framework where they will be free
from any risk & hazards is very important as a patient can only be treated when doctor is itself
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health and fit in terms of their health as well as profession. The occupational risks not only limits
the ability of dentist to treat patients but also makes them vulnerable to wide range of
occupation-related disorders which sometimes even lead to their death. Thus, the major aspect
which forms the rationale behind studying this topic is to present a well-documented report to
them as well as students studying dentistry and inform them about the various incidents which
have occurred due to these risks and this will eventually raise awareness among them for
maintaining a safe environment at workplace (Adhikari and et.al.,2017).
Aim
To raise the awareness about occupational risks and hazards in dentistry for improving
health and safety for oral healthcare professionals at work.
Objectives
The main objectives of this study are
 To identify the various occupational risks and hazards which dentists encounters at
workplace and while treating the patients
 To design various preventive measures for reducing or eliminating the occupational risks
at workplace.
 To understand the role of health and safety in oral care and its significance for the oral
healthcare professionals.
LR
Occupational risks and hazards
As per the view of Moodley, Naidoo and Van Wyk (2018), Dentistry is basically the
branch in medical science which mainly deals with the study, diagnosis as well as prevention of
diseases, disorders which are related top the oral mucosa. Dentistry is considered as the main
branch in healthcare and thus forms an important link which helps the organizations to treat the
individuals suffering from various disorders and diseases of mouth. Occupational risks on the
other hand are the range of risks which signifies and addresses long-term as well and short-run
risks which are associated to the workplace and thus relates top the occupational health as well as
public health. Dental professionals are primarily exposed to wide number of occupational
hazards. This mainly includes infections that involves human immunodeficiency, percutaneous
exposure incidents, radiations as well as noise, psychological problems, respiratory disorders,
eye insults, muscoloskeletal disorders etc. In comparison to the wide range of healthcare
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workers, dental professionals and workers remains in contact with the patients and also utilizes
numerous sharp as well as high-speed instruments thus it becomes highly essential to know the
significance and importance of various occupational accidents which takes place during work.
There is basically the misconception that the dentist and oral professionals have safe profession
but as per the report of UK, dentists as well as dental therapist has been recognized as one of the
most prevalent one which are highly exposed to various occupational risks and thus performs
work which drastically affects health. They remain under the treat of various negative health
effects like exposure to harmful radiations, exposure to infectious diseases and most importantly
the time spent while sitting. These all generally poses a wide range of health impacts on the
dentists and thus deteriorate their physical as well as mental health.
According to Chugh (2017), there are number of health hazards and occupational risks which
dentists and practitioners encounters.
Infectious hazards
Dentist are generally involved in using a wide range of objects which are dangerous and
thus can cause a bad impact on health. Needles as well as sharp objects, spatter along with
aerosol which is being used while treating the patients can transmit various viral infections like
hepatitis B.
Psychological hazards
Oral professionals not only undergoes through physical health problems but stress is one
of the most important psychological conditions which mainly occurs within dental profession.
According to WHO, the job of dentists is perceived more stressful as compared to other
healthcare jobs. The negative pictures which are being induced by dentistry media as profession
is filled with many dangers which could be one of the leading cause.
Allergic reactions
Besides physical and mental hazards, dentist also come across wide range of allergic
reactions that poses serious threat upon their health. The gloves which contain latex is one of the
main cause behind allergic reactions and skin infections. Other materials like detergents,
lubrication oils, various solvents as well as X-ray chemicals also lead to wide range of allergic
and skin reactions.
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Physical hazards
There are also some physical hazards which the dentists encounter while treating the
patient or while performing other work. This mainly includes various musculoskeletal
complications that have the direct relation with dentistry procedure such as postural situations
which increases the risks and chances of twisting as well as contorting body.
Ionizing radiations
The profession of dentist is such that they have to utilize a wide range of radiation for
treating the patients as most oral health problems requires the exposure of some form of
radiations. The X-ray machines which are being installed in the dental office mainly predisposes
dentists and oral professional to suffer from the ionizing radiations.
Apart from all these , there are various other risks as well as hazards which dentists and oral
healthcare professionals face at their workplace while treating the patients and performing their
work.
Mercury health hazards
Mercury health hazards are affecting the health of people which are having the problems
relating to the dentistry. High dose of mercury vapor so it would lead to the biological and
neurological issues. There are some capsules which would lower the mercury level capsules like
the sealed amalgam capsules. Proper collection and proper ventilation are would lower the
mercury level. Various dentist have stopped the use of mercury in treatment so it has diminished
the growth of the mercury. Use of mercury in treatment is destroying the health of people which
are affected with these problems.
Non ionizing radiations
In the treatment of dentistry, dentist are using the lasers on the large scale and it is
affecting the health of the people on which doctors are using the lasers. So the dentist have to
treat the people without the use of lasers which would not affect the health of people. Due to the
use of laser the people are affected and other tissues are affected. Tissues of other parts of body
are affected and other parts of body would face the problem in functioning.
Use of anesthetic gases
Anesthetic gases are also used in dental offices and these would also affect the health of
the people which are visiting the place. Dentist are using the nitrous oxide on large scale and it
would result in the problems for the people on which the nitrous oxide is used continuously.
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Dentist must come up with the preventive measures for not using the nitrous oxide on the people
which are visiting the dentist.
Infection
Dentist are usually treating with various people but some people are dealing with the
diseases like the HBV and HIV and many infectious diseases. These types of patients are visited
by the dentist and people would face problem related to the Infection of diseases. These blood
borne infections are affecting the health of the dentist and other patients which are visiting the
dentist. So the preventive measures must be taken by dentist while treating the patients.
Preventive measures
As illustrated by Moodley, Naidoo and van Wyk (2018), The various health risks which
oral professionals comes across poses negative impact on their health and thus deteriorate their
physical health. In order to treat the patients, professionals also needs to be fit and fine thus
improving the health and safety conditions for dentists and thus reducing the wide range of risks
which occurs at workplace becomes highly essential. As the dentists come across the wide range
of threats and risks, it becomes important to take some measure that will eventually lead to the
improvement of workplace condition and thus will protect them from the various occupational
risks affecting their health. The most important part which is required for improving the
condition of dentist at workplace and for reducing the occupational risks is providing effective
training to them. One of the most important standard which relates to their training and
development is OSHA. Some of the dentists generally remain aware of the use of various
instruments like needles, Ionic radiations. Thus, in order to manage this risk there, these dentists
should be given effective training in an understandable form which will help them to know the
importance the various equipment and also will help them to understand how to use these
machines in order to avoid any accident.
According to Hbibi and et.al., (2018), Another physical risk which dentist faces is the
threat of some physical injuries and these physical hazards mainly includes various aspects like
poor illumination. Thus, in, order to prevent this and overcome the incident of harmful health
effects, there should be an effective and suitable lighting system which will help the dentists to
overcome various physical hazards. For preventing slips, falls as well as trips there should be
adequate lighting which will enable dentist to see through and treat the patients effectively.
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Besides this, the treatment areas should be designed in such a way that there remains appropriate
space for accommodating the portable equipment.
Along with the various physical hazards, dentist also remain exposed to wide range of
mechanical aspects like exposure to high intensity sound. When treating the patients, dentists
uses ionizing radiations of high sound which eventually leads to the disturbance of auditory lobe
of dentists and thus sometimes hiders their hearing ability. In order to cope up with this, there
should be provision of some ear plugs which will keep the ear membrane of dentists safe. There
should be some form of personal protection through the application of ear plugs as well as muffs
that will reduce sound intensity to more than 35dB. Besides this, the noise level of numerous
modern equipment should be reduced to about 85dB which is the widely used benchmark of
sound. Along with this, there should be installed some compressor or ultrasonic scaler which will
absorb the high level of sound and thus will deliver only the acceptable level of sound.
As per the view of Jamil and et.al., (2016), Dentists and the oral healthcare professionals
encounters a wide rage of allergic reactions due to the use of wide range of chemicals like
detergents, disinfectants for cleaning hand and for sanitizing the other equipment. This often lead
to various problems like dermatitis, kin cancer, erythema etc. Therefore in order to overcome
this, various preventive measure should be adopted by the healthcare organizations for welfare of
dentists like
Alcohol based hand sanitizers should be replaced with some form of hand cream or these
sanitizers should be kept away from any ignition sources and should be stored properly. To
reduce the harmful effects of detergents, there should be substitution of detergents with some
less dangeorus products which are properly maintained as well a maintained within ventilation
system. Along with this, the dentists should be given a thorough training on the significance of
various chemicals and the acceptable quality that should be used for cleaning.
Along with this, Dentists when come across the harmful ionizing radiations leads to the
range of different diseases which not only affects them physically but also impacts their health
internally. The radiations effects which acts upon dentists can sometimes be life threatening and
can even lead to death. Ont only does the ionizing radiations but some of the non-ionizing
radiations drastically affects the eyes and skin of dentists. In order to prevent this, there should
be provision of lead aprons as well as lead gloves. According to health and administration
department, the clinics are required to install the standard radiography equipment that follows
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National council on Radiation protection and measurement (NCRP) as well as which are ISI
recommended. These equipments filter the beam and thus filters the harmful radiations which
does not affect the health and eye to great extent. Along with this, the equipment and machines
of radiography emitting these radiations should be placed in a separate room and should be
positioned behind a certain wall. The wall should be sufficiently thick and have appropriate
density.
In addition to this, the gowns or the uniforms of dentist should be hygienic and should be
changed on regular basis after treating the patient. Thus, these are some of the control and
preventive measures which should be adopted at clinics or hospitals for ensuring the health as
well as safety of dentists.
PROJECT PLAN
It is very important to have a project plan when there is a decision which has been take
for the benefit for the organization so that the company will be able to make a profit (Jardim and
et.al., 2019). There has to be an understanding of the factors such as cost, scope, time, quality,
communication, risk and resources. The discussion on these factors are as follows.
Cost
There is a limnited cost which can be applied for the decisions and the betterment of the
oral health care which the company is going to provide to the customers. The cost which can be
invested in this project for the better oral health care for the customers is very important because
this will improve the people's personal hygiene and that is very important so that the future does
not have any major issues. The cost of this is not much for the oral health care department and
can be done in 10 days.
Scope
The scope of this aware is huge in the market and can help a lot of people be aware of the
problems which they were not aware of in the past. Through this the industry will be able to
grow and there will be a change for the customers as well, and they will not approach the oral
health department on the last mintue.
Time
The time duration for this aware program is not more than 10 days if the process is done
properly and that is very important for the company. There has to be a good quality time which
has to be given for spreading the awareness in the company. Time management is very important
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