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Admin		#1 Posted : 24 July 2006 10:47:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Robert S Woods I’m struggling to think of risks associated with dentists. The radiation and clinical risks are all covered by the BDAs policy, guidance and monitoring. I’ve done fire, assault (from patients), manual handling; heaviest thing is boxes of paper (gas bottles are delivered to point of use), needle stick injuries. Any thoughts?
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Admin		#2 Posted : 24 July 2006 11:14:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Andy Walker Bob I may be talking twaddle here but I seem to recall something about some type of general anestetic igniting/exploding whilst the patient was under due to static? Or did I dream it? Andy W
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Admin		#3 Posted : 24 July 2006 11:18:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By J Knight Hi Robert, Expand needle-stick to include other routes for cross infection, consider for example why debtists wear gloves and nowadays masks. Amalgam still has mercury in it. Anaesthetic gases maybe. Stress, dentistry is very bad for this, lots of detailed work in cramped conditions with high risks if things go wrong, plus a heavy workload. They do have an elevated suicide risk. RSI from detailed fiddly manual work, my partner (a physio) has treated dentists with MSDs such as golfer's & tennis elbow, for example. A couple of suggestions in any event
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Admin		#4 Posted : 24 July 2006 11:22:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By John Webster Hazardous substances (anaesthetic gas, mercury amalgam and a few other bits and bobs they use); ergonomics - dentists and dental assistants can suffer musculo-skeletal disorders from the postural requirements of the job; uv radiation; risk of eye injury from bits of flying tooth & amalgam; any lifting equipment - not the dental chairs, they dont come under LOLER - but maybe tracking hoists for disabled patients? And you should still include the risks already managed under BDA protocols and monitoring
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Admin		#5 Posted : 24 July 2006 11:36:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By ChrisB Latex allergies and my dentist has had to go part-time now because of postural disorder
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Admin		#6 Posted : 24 July 2006 11:54:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By John D Crosby Hi Don't forget vibration from use of drills. John C
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Admin		#7 Posted : 24 July 2006 12:28:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Is Kismet The Dental Association does a RA pack free of charge for members, £25 otherwise. They should know all the risks.
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Admin		#8 Posted : 24 July 2006 16:51:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Ali What about HFL's , COSHH, HIV/AIDS etc.., slips/trips/falls, machine hazards (?), welfare (is there a lot of standing all day with no place to sit ?), PAT,
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Admin		#9 Posted : 24 July 2006 16:57:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Robert S Woods HFL's
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Admin		#10 Posted : 24 July 2006 19:22:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Is Kismet Hemorrhagic Fatty Liver Syndrome (HFLS)
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Admin		#11 Posted : 24 July 2006 22:37:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By George Wedgwood I suffer from tinnitus and the noise of his drill (frequently used!) is about the same - ouch! Surely a quieter drill must be a possibility and what about his exposure to continuous noise? He wears no PPE and what about the tooth drilling particulate - it smells pretty awful so it must be breathed in? And that horrible pink rinse - is it wholly benign? Food for (not too much) thought!!
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Admin		#12 Posted : 25 July 2006 07:53:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Tony Bish Need to look at the disposal of waste - medical sharps / syringes , swabs, used gloves and the mercury content of removed fillings. The risk assessment needs to look at these items within the surgery, method of containment, security at the point of storage and collection by an authorised waste carrier / disposer. EPA 1990 - Waste Management Duty of Care and the Hazardous Waste Regs apply.
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Admin		#13 Posted : 25 July 2006 09:21:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Chris Packham Methacrylate used in adhesives etc. is a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis among dentists and dental technicians. Unfortunately, there is no glove that is suitable as those which allow adequate dexterity have extremely short permeation breakthrough times.
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Admin		#14 Posted : 25 July 2006 22:37:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Ashley Williams Did anyone do legionella? Ash
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Admin		#15 Posted : 26 July 2006 08:56:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Ian Dale Sorry to be pedantic but amalgam always contains mercury! There is however a serious point about mercury exposure. Some dental premises have been surgeries for many years with previous spillages still producing significant atmospheric concentrations. Ina Dale
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Admin		#16 Posted : 26 July 2006 09:22:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Robert S Woods L8 assessment carried out. No water storage other than header tank for central heating, mains fed combi boiler, and no low use outlets or deadlegs.
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