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Dental workplace exposure and effect on fertility
J E Dahl1, J Sundby, A Hensten-Pettersen
1NIOM--Scandinavian Institute of Dental Materials, Haslum, Norway. jon.dahl@niom.no
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|August 18, 1999
Summary
Female dental surgeons experienced no significant fertility decline despite occupational exposures to mercury, chloroform, and benzene. This study assessed workplace risks and reproductive health in dental professionals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Reproductive Epidemiology
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Dental professionals face unique occupational exposures.
- Assessing the impact of these exposures on fertility is crucial for reproductive health.
- Previous studies have yielded mixed results on dental work and fertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between occupational exposures in dental surgeries and fertility.
- To apply the waiting-time-to-pregnancy methodology to assess reproductive outcomes.
- To compare fertility rates between female dental surgeons and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data collection via postal questionnaires.
- Study groups: 558 female dental surgeons and 450 high school teachers in Norway.
- Analysis of 1408 pregnancies using discrete proportional hazard regression.
Main Results:
- Most dental surgeons used amalgam; 1/3 placed >50 fillings weekly.
- 75% handled chloroform-based sealers; 40% daily exposed to ethanol/benzene disinfectants.
- No significant fertility difference found; mercury, chloroform, benzene not linked to decreased fertility, except potential mercury effect in late pregnancies.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposures in dental practice did not demonstrate clear adverse effects on fertility.
- The study suggests dental professionals' reproductive health is not significantly compromised by common workplace agents.
- Further research may explore specific exposure levels and long-term reproductive outcomes.