DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2018.v05i04.009

Pages: 214-219

Occupational hazards refer to a risk or danger arising on a consequence of the nature or working conditions of a particular job. Dental professionals and their patients are exposed to numerous occupational hazards, making them more vulnerable to injury. Besides general occupational hazards affecting the Orthodontist, there are various professional risk factors in Orthodontics that may harm Orthodontist’s and their team. The potential areas for occupational hazards are Orthodontic office/clinic, laboratory area and sterilization area. Potentially hazardous factors for dental professionals includes specific materials and tools that expose the operator to vision and auditory risks; chemical substances with known allergenic, toxic, or irritating actions; increased microbial counts and silica particles of the aerosols produced during debonding and psychological stress with proven undesirable sequelae. The identification and elimination of these risk factors should be incorporated into a standard practice management program as an integral part of orthodontic education. This review article will cover general occupational hazards in dentistry as well as specific occupational hazards to the Orthodontist.