Viral hepatitis. Current concepts for dental practice

The transmission of blood-borne viruses in the dental office is a potential hazard to patients and dental staff, particularly to oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Hepatitis B virus has been a recognized hazard for several years, and in the past oral surgeons and other dental health care staff have been infected as a result of occupational exposure. Hepatitis C virus in contrast does not appear to be a major occupational hazard to dental staff, nevertheless, infection with this virus can lead to significant morbidity and may have oral manifestations. Hepatitis D virus can be nosocomally transmitted, but vaccination against the hepatitis B virus minimizes this problem. Hepatitis E virus is not of clinical relevance to dentistry, although dental staff who are in areas of endemic infection can become infected as a result of enteric transmission. A number of other putative viral agents may also cause hepatitis, but additional data is awaited, and their significance to dental practice is unknown. This article summarizes current data on hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E.