Dentists’ Health Matters
By: Dr. Weam M. Banjar; Researcher
Occupational health focuses on maintaining and promoting highest degree of physical, mental, and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations. Dental professionals are no exception and at risk of different occupational hazards that range from toxicity to chemicals routinely consumed in
dentistry, risk for cross infection, to musculoskeletal diseases/ disorders consequential to sub-optimal working posture. Awareness of these occupational hazard and implementation of mitigation and/ or preventive strategies can provide safe practice environment and create a protective ecosystem for all concerned and improve the total dental professionals’ quality of life.
Multilateral recognition and acknowledgement of occupational hazard risk among dental professionals is necessary to ensure holistic approach to addressing concerns and challenges and establish evidence-based policies. The interaction between policy makers, researchers, and professionals is pivotal to support and enhance establishment of evidence-based policies, awareness campaigns, and occupational health and wellness programs. Policy makers often are distracted by patients-centered and/ or population-centered approach. Yet, it is the researchers and professional societies responsibility to collaborate and conduct activities and project that assess and prioritize professionals needs and demands, and draft evidence-based policies and recommendations. Professional societies are responsible for orchestrating awareness campaigns and push through professional needs. Professionals should adhere to protective measures to preserve their health and actively participate in activities that improve the work place ecosystem. Occupational health insurance is increasingly becoming a necessity for dental health professionals.
Management of dental professionals’ exposure to occupational health hazard requires multilateral collaboration. It is vital to preserve the smile and health of dental professionals; the creator of population smile.
