An Allergy Survey Among Dental Professionals

Purpose: Medical materials in clinical settings could function as risk factors that cause allergic symptoms. This issue is particularly relevant to dental professionals because they are exposed to various allergens. The objective of the present study is to conduct an allergy survey among dental professionals and clarify the actual prevalence and other parameters of allergies.Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to employees and dental students working at the University of Tokushima Dental Hospital (currently, the Department of Dentistry, Tokushima University Hospital).Results: Valid responses were obtained from 294 individuals (145 males and 149 females). The average age of the respondents was 34.0 years. Of the respondents, 61.2% had experienced some subjective symptoms associated with allergy. The most common allergic symptom was allergic rhinitis (40.1%), and 20.4% of the respondents perceived themselves to be allergic to medical gloves.Conclusion: The study results indicated that the prevalence of subjective allergic symptoms was higher among dental professionals than among the general public or other healthcare professionals. This suggests that dental professionals work in an environment where they are likely to be sensitized to different allergens.