Mortality among dentists in Taiwan, 1985-2009

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Debate exists regarding premature mortality among dentists due to occupational exposures.
• A cohort mortality study was designed to investigate survival outcomes in dentists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate survival outcomes among dentists.
• To determine if occupational exposures lead to premature mortality in dentists.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 11,700 dentists was followed from 1985-2009 using the Life Table Analysis System.
• Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated comparing dentists to the general population and Taiwanese internists.
• A Cox proportional hazard model identified risk factors for mortality.

Main Results:

• Dentists exhibited reduced all-cause mortality compared to the general population.
• However, dentists showed significantly higher mortality than internists for overall mortality (SMR=1.13), drowning (SMR=6.62), and heart disease (SMR=1.66).
• The Cox model indicated an increased hazard ratio for dentists (HR=1.17).

Conclusions:

• Taiwanese dentists face elevated mortality risks for overall causes, drowning, and heart disease.
• Preventive measures are recommended to mitigate these occupational risks.
• Further research is necessary to explore the mechanisms linking professional stress and exposure to increased mortality in dentists.