Viral hepatitis: a risk factor in dental practice

Abstract

During dental pratice, there is a potential hazard to patients and dentists of infectious diseases transmission. Those diseases include viral hepatitis due to its form of transmission and possible complications like liver cirrhosis and cancer. The hepatitis viruses of greatest relevance to dentistry are mainly hepatitis viruses B, C and D. There is increasing evidence that other hepatitis viruses as G, TT and SEN-V can be parenterally transmitted and also pose occupational hazards in dental pratice. Despite all the available knowledge, it is still possible to find professionals, professors and students which still neglect the biosafety procedures.