Occupational Contact Dermatitis in Dental Personnel: A Retrospective Analysis of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001 to 2018

Authors

Erin M. Warshaw
Jenna L. Ruggiero
Amber R. Atwater, Department of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Joel G. DeKoven, Division of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kathryn A. Zug, Department of Dermatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
Margo J. Reeder, Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison.
Jonathan I. Silverberg, Department of Dermatology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
James S. Taylor, Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic, OH.
Melanie D. Pratt, Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Howard I. Maibach, Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco.
Marie-Claude Houle, Division of Dermatology, CHU de Quebec, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Donald V. Belsito, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical School, New York, NY.
Joseph F. Fowler, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville, KY.
Cory A. Dunnick, Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado, Boulder.
Vincent A. DeLeo, Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
Denis Sasseville, Division of Dermatology, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
Anthony F. Fransway, Associates in Dermatology, Fort Myers, FL.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Journal

Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug

Volume

33

Issue

1

DOI

10.1097/DER.0000000000000847

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dental personnel are at risk of developing occupational contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to determine prevalence of occupational contact dermatitis in dental personnel referred for patch testing and to characterize relevant allergens and sources. METHODS: The study used a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) data, 2001-2018. RESULTS: Of 41,109 patients, 585 (1.4%) were dental personnel. Dental personnel were significantly more likely than nondental personnel to be female (75.7% vs 67.4%, P < 0.0001), have occupationally related dermatitis (35.7% vs 11.5%, P < 0.0001), and/or have primary hand involvement (48.6% vs 22.5%, P < 0.0001). More than one quarter of dental personnel (62/585, 27.7%) had 1 or more occupationally related allergic patch test reaction(s). There were 249 occupationally related reactions to NACDG screening allergens, most commonly glutaraldehyde (18.1%), thiuram mix (16.1%), and carba mix (14.1%). The most common sources of NACDG screening allergens were gloves (30.7%), dental materials (26.6%), and sterilizing solutions (13.1%). Seventy-three dental personnel (12.5%) had 1 or more positive patch test reactions to occupationally related allergen(s)/substances not on the screening series. Occupationally related irritant contact dermatitis was identified in 22.2% (n = 130) of dental personnel, most commonly to nonskin soaps/detergents/disinfectants (32.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational contact dermatitis is common in dental personnel referred for patch testing. Comprehensive testing beyond screening series is important in these patients.

APA Citation

Warshaw, Erin M.; Ruggiero, Jenna L.; Atwater, Amber R.; DeKoven, Joel G.; Zug, Kathryn A.; Reeder, Margo J.; Silverberg, Jonathan I.; Taylor, James S.; Pratt, Melanie D.; Maibach, Howard I.; Houle, Marie-Claude; Belsito, Donald V.; Fowler, Joseph F.; Dunnick, Cory A.; DeLeo, Vincent A.; Sasseville, Denis; and Fransway, Anthony F., "Occupational Contact Dermatitis in Dental Personnel: A Retrospective Analysis of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001 to 2018" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 438.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/438

Department

Dermatology