The incidence of allergic contact dermatitis was analysed in 79 dentists and 46 dental nurses referred during 1990–2000 for consultation to our institute. Allergic contact dermatitis was diagnosed from the positive results of patch tests and type I allergy to latex and common environmental allergens from the positive results of prick tests. We have found that the dental personnel was hypersensitive primarily to components of disinfectants, metals, rubber and fragrances. Acrylates caused allergy only in the dentists (20–25% of all examined patients). Among 20 acrylate-sensitive dentists, 20 reacted to ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate. There was also a high incidence of allergy to nickel (25.3%), cobalt (20.2%), fragrances (17.2%), formaldehyde (15.2%), potassium dichromate (13.9%), thimerosal (12.6%), thiurams and Peru balsam (11.4%) as well as glutaraldehyde (10.1%). As much as 12 of 46 dental nurses developed allergy to glutaraldehyde, 6 were allergic to formaldehyde and 3 to glyoxal. Nickel produced a positive reaction in 10 patients, fragrances, thimerosal, potassium dichromate in 5 each, thiurams and eugenol in 4 each. In our opinion, acrylates in the dentists and disinfecant aldehydes in the dental nurses constitute the major sources of allergy among dental personnel. Type I allergy to natural latex was diagnosed in 6.3% dentists and 8.7% dental nurses.

Keywords:
Allergy, Metals, Disinfectants, Rubber, Fragrances, Acrylates, Dentists, Dental nurses
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© 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
2002
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