Nonmalignant respiratory disease mortality among dentists in the United States from 1979 through 2018.

Background: Dentists can be exposed to dust and nanoparticles from teeth, dental composites, and metal alloys generated during dental procedures, and exposure to dust can cause respiratory diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis. The authors describe mortality from nonmalignant respiratory diseases (NMRDs) among dentists in the United States.

Methods: The authors submitted information on US dentists who died from 1979 through 2018 to a centralized US death records database to obtain underlying causes of death.

Declining US dental amalgam restorations in US Food and Drug Administration-identified populations: 2017-2023.

Background: In light of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and efforts to phase down dental amalgam use, tracking dental amalgam proportions across US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-identified at-risk populations is of interest to optimize material selection aligned with patient needs.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of Epic's Cosmos electronic health records data set was conducted to calculate the rates of dental amalgam restorations from 2017 through 2023 and stratified using the social vulnerability index (quartile 4 indicates the highest social vulnerability and quartile 1 indicates the lowest) and payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, self-pay, miscellaneous or other). The authors included the following FDA-identified at-risk populations: pregnant people, children younger than 6 years, people with preexisting neurologic conditions, and people with impaired kidney function (n = 1,897,976).

Dental unit waterline infection control practice and knowledge gaps.

Background: Dental unit waterline (DWL) infection control is critical to infection prevention. Identifying challenges and barriers to its implementation is a first step toward understanding how to improve engagement.

Methods: A survey was distributed to dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants via the Qualtrics XM platform (Qualtrics).

Optimizing radiation safety in dentistry: Clinical recommendations and regulatory considerations.

Background: The value of dental radiographs to oral health care decision making must be balanced with radiation safety to minimize patient exposure and occupational risk of oral health care providers. This review summarizes recommendations and regulatory guidance regarding dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography. An expert panel presents recommendations on radiation safety, appropriate imaging practices, and reducing radiation exposure.