Until now, the CDC’s Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-care Settings (last updated 2003) report had consolidated recommendations for preventing and controlling infectious diseases, which included management of personnel health and safety concerns related to infection control in the dental setting. Furthermore, the guidelines presented were primarily designed to address blood-borne and saliva-borne transmission of pathogens. Sterilization of reusable items, and treatment of hard surfaces, in addition to personal protections, were the focus of this report.
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The study further indicates that standard methods appear to be inadequate when assessing mercury exposure during drilling on dental amalgam because these methods do not account for an overlooked source: mercury vapor emitted from particles of the filling that are generated by drilling. However, the new data also emphasizes that specific safety measures can mitigate these mercury levels and provide more rigorous protection for patients and dental workers.