HAZZARDOUS chemicals???

[cbennett]

I was just wondering if during dental school and practicing you are exposed to chemicals which are known or suspected to be hazzardous. I realize that looking back 50 years ago we thought alot of stuff which is hazzardous was safe but do dentist still regularly deal with chemical/toxic vapors. Also does anyone know if there is a higher rate of cancer or other health related problems among dentist.

 

[mayoree]

Well, I suppose we won't know until about 50 years from now...On an interesting note, in my hometown, all the dentists (there were only 3, small town) had autistic children. Chew over that one for a while 🙂

I was just wondering if during dental school and practicing you are exposed to chemicals which are known or suspected to be hazzardous. I realize that looking back 50 years ago we thought alot of stuff which is hazzardous was safe but do dentist still regularly deal with chemical/toxic vapors. Also does anyone know if there is a higher rate of cancer or other health related problems among dentist.

 

[divertete]

When my dad was in school, they used asbestos to make custom impression trays. Then they had to grind it out. Without a mask. 👍

And yes, there are several things we use that are known or suspected carcinogens, but we all wear gowns/masks/gloves/eye protection almost all the time, even in pre-clinic lab. I don't feel like I'm at especially high risk.

 

[aphistis]

Yes. You work with dangerous chemicals all the time. Precautions are taken, of course, but you'll still spend a good half of your lab time huffed up on monomer fumes.

 

[NileBDS]

Well, I suppose we won't know until about 50 years from now...On an interesting note, in my hometown, all the dentists (there were only 3, small town) had autistic children. Chew over that one for a while 🙂

Scary ... this is no coincidence. Being a small town, do you know if they all went to the same dental school ? Males or females ?

To OP: Never underestimate Mercury vapors. You will be working with mercury for the better part of school and in most practice settings. Mercury vapors have been linked in more than one study to autisim.
This is however not to be confused with mercury fillings. Once the filling has reached it's maximum strength (24-48 hours), there is next to zero mercury risk. The highest risk periods being during amalgam trituration, condensation (vapors) and during amalgam polishing (liquid).

 

[cbennett]

Damn!!! i will definently ponder over this for awhile. This could definently influence my desicion to go to med school instead or something else. I have the grades to get into mednschool but i would prefer dentistry over medicine because i think its more interesting and has much better hours too but i don't think i am willing to take this risk. In the summers i work a construction job renovating stone houses and i deal with all kind of chemicals there but i use a full face gas mask at all times when these chemicals are present I dont believe i have ever seen a dentist wherein anything other than a basic mask so there is NO way in hell that he/she would NOT be exposed to the same chemicals that are in the air. I would love to know more on this matter if anyone knows anything but this could definently push me away from dentistry. Thanks everyone who have already responded please post more info if you have any. I will continue to look this up online but theres nothing like first hand experiance. Also does anyone know if there are any specialties where toxin contact is very minimal or non-existant.

 

[hockeydentist]

Well, I suppose we won't know until about 50 years from now...On an interesting note, in my hometown, all the dentists (there were only 3, small town) had autistic children. Chew over that one for a while 🙂

Interesting, I wonder if there is a study done nationally to see if this merely a coincidence in this small town or if this is happening around the nation.