Sammanfattning
Members of the dental team are exposed daily to biological,
chemical and physical agents. These vary for example, from
microorganisms to noise, and are present in forms as diverse
as aerosols and gasses. National and international directives,
legislation and guidelines for infection control, and occupational
health issues intended for the dental clinic, govern the physical
and other types of protection required. In addition, it is important
to be acquainted with the justification for any specific protective
item, when and when not to use it and when an upgrade
is required. Examples are the purchase of new instruments and
equipment or the outbreak of epidemics of new or altered microorganisms
that require a new or a different type of protection. It
is important to adapt the use of personal protection to an acceptable
and practical level that includes the entire dental team.
Occupational health education should be introduced at an early
stage in the curriculum of the dental team. User competence in
using personal protection must be ensured when new equipment
is acquired. This article presents the types of exposure agents
most frequently met in the dental clinic and the corresponding
physical and other personal protection devices that should or
may be used.