According to a report published in the Journal of American Medical Association, investigators from CDC have reported an increased risk of lung diseases amongst dentists in America. A number of cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were reported among dentists in Virginia between 2010 to 2015. IPF is a progressive disease that causes fibrosing interstitial pneumonia and has a high mortality rate. Citing unpublished data, the researchers have claimed that dentists are at an increased risk of contracting lung diseases.
The report enforces the need to better understand the occupational hazards of dentists so that proper precautionary measures can be taken. The cause for IPF is unknown, but cigarettes, viral infection, exposure to dust are some common causes of the disease. Dentists are at occupational risk of exposure to various infectious agents, chemicals, radiation, and hazardous…
