ABSTRACT

The practice of dentistry requires a variety of physical attributes, such as good visual acuity, hearing, depth perception and psychomotor skills with excellent manual dexterity, mental alertness, sound judgment, good communication, managerial skills and the ability to maintain occupationally related postures over long periods of time. Conditions that require a careful physically and mentally demanding occupation may affect the health of dentists in the course of time. Risk factors that dentists should know are those that affect the eyes, ears and the hands and fingers, systemic bloodborne or aerosolborne infectious diseases, allergies, musculoskeletal disorders; toxicity and stress. Dentists should protect their own physical and phychological health at best and take precautions when they have health problems. Dentistry is a safe profession, when occupationally related risk factors are well understood and considered by dentists.