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Stomatologija 2012; 14 (1): 27-32 32 KB

Occupational hazards and preventive practices among students and faculty at a private dental institution in India

Jyothi Tadakamadla, Santosh Kumar, Lingam Amara Swapna, Sudhakar Reddy

Summary

Aims. To assess the level of awareness and occupational hazards experienced in addition to preventive measures undertaken by the students and faculty working at a private dental institution in India.

Methods. The present study was conducted at a private dental teaching hospital in India using self-administered questionnaires. All the students attending the clinics and the faculty members of the hospital were invited to participate in the study. The final study population consisted of 290 dental professionals. The self-administered questionnaire also included questions on personal information like age, gender, position (student or faculty), years of experience and number of working hours per day apart from the questions on the level of awareness, preventive procedures undertaken and occupational hazards experienced.

Results. Significantly greater number of females experienced musculoskeletal disorders (p=0.031) and allergy to latex (p=0.004) than males. Nearly half the study population reported of sharp instrument injury while treating the patients. The most prevalent preventive measure reported by the respondents was changing gloves between the patients (98.6%) and use of face mask (97.2%). Most of the participants (94.1%) had undergone Hepatitis B or other vaccination procedures.

Conclusions. Majority of the study population were aware of the biological hazards associated with the practice of dentistry. None of the preventive measures were observed by all the participants.

Key words: dentist; dental students; occupational hazards.

Received: 05 04 2011

Accepted for publishing: 18 03 2012

¹Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

²Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

³Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vishnu Dental College, India

Jyothi Tadakamadla¹ – MDS

Santosh Kumar² – MDS

Lingam Amara Swapna³ – MDS

Sudhakar Reddy³ – MDS

Address correspondence to: to Dr. Jyothi Tadakamadla, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. E-mail address: docjyotia@yahoo.co.in



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

March, 2012, Vol. 14, No. 1 CONTENTS REVIEWS The preservation of alveolar bone ridge during tooth extraction Marius Kubilius, Ricardas Kubilius, Alvydas Gleiznys 3-11 Evidence based toothpaste classification, according to certain characteristics of their chemical composition Ilze Maldupa, Anda Brinkmane, Inga Rendeniece, Anna Mihailova 12-22 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Quantity and quality analysis of dental prosthodontics among retirement age residents from nursing homes in different regions of Latvia and retirement age patients from dental clinic in Riga Aldis Vidzis, Ingrida Cema, Anda Brinkmane, Ingrida Krasta, Kristine Broka 23-27 Occupational hazards and preventive practices among students and faculty at a private dental institution in India Jyothi Tadakamadla, Santosh Kumar, Lingam Amara Swapna, Sudhakar Reddy 28-32 CLINICAL CASE REPORTS Conservative treatment of ameloblastoma in child: A case report Rafaela Scariot, Rafael Vilson da Silva, Wanderley da Silva Felix Jr, Delson Joao da Costa, Nelson Luis Barbosa Rebellato 33-36 © 2012 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2012; 14 (1): 27-32 32 KB Occupational hazards and preventive practices among students and faculty at a private dental institution in India Jyothi Tadakamadla, Santosh Kumar, Lingam Amara Swapna, Sudhakar Reddy Summary Aims. To assess the level of awareness and occupational hazards experienced in addition to preventive measures undertaken by the students and faculty working at a private dental institution in India. Methods. The present study was conducted at a private dental teaching hospital in India using self-administered questionnaires. All the students attending the clinics and the faculty members of the hospital were invited to participate in the study. The final study population consisted of 290 dental professionals. The self-administered questionnaire also included questions on personal information like age, gender, position (student or faculty), years of experience and number of working hours per day apart from the questions on the level of awareness, preventive procedures undertaken and occupational hazards experienced. Results. Significantly greater number of females experienced musculoskeletal disorders (p=0.031) and allergy to latex (p=0.004) than males. Nearly half the study population reported of sharp instrument injury while treating the patients. The most prevalent preventive measure reported by the respondents was changing gloves between the patients (98.6%) and use of face mask (97.2%). Most of the participants (94.1%) had undergone Hepatitis B or other vaccination procedures. Conclusions. Majority of the study population were aware of the biological hazards associated with the practice of dentistry. None of the preventive measures were observed by all the participants. Key words: dentist; dental students; occupational hazards. Received: 05 04 2011 Accepted for publishing: 18 03 2012 ¹Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia ²Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia ³Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vishnu Dental College, India Jyothi Tadakamadla¹ – MDS Santosh Kumar² – MDS Lingam Amara Swapna³ – MDS Sudhakar Reddy³ – MDS Address correspondence to: to Dr. Jyothi Tadakamadla, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. E-mail address: docjyotia@yahoo.co.in