Hepatitis B and C infection: Clinical implications in dental practice

Abstract

Health-care workers have an occupational risk of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Since dental healthcare professionals have numerous patients and are exposed to blood, they are likely to have the maximum risk. HBC and HCV are transmitted by skin prick with infected, contaminated needles and syringes or through accidental inoculation of minute quantities of blood during surgical and dental procedures. HBV can be prevented by strict adherence to standard microbiological practices and techniques, and routine use of appropriate barrier precautions to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposure when handling blood and other body fluids of all patients in healthcare settings and pre-exposure vaccines. Despite many publications about programs and strategies to prevent transmission, HBV and HCV infections remain a major public health issue. Oral clinical manifestations can be observed, such as bleeding disorders, jaundice, fetor hepaticus, and xerostomia. The most frequent extrahepatic manifestations mostly affect the oral region in the form of lichen planus, xerostomia, Sjögren's syndrome, and sialadenitis. The present paper highlights some of the important oral manifestations related to hepatitis B and C infection and various post-exposure protocols that can be undertaken to minimize the risk of infection.

Manejo estomatológico del paciente con hepatopatías: Una revisión de la literatura

“…Como se sabe, en pacientes con una función hepática alterada, la homeostasis también puede verse afectada, lo que en la cavidad oral se manifiesta como petequias o sangrado gingival excesivo en traumatismos menores 24 .…”

Oral capillary hemangioma in a ten year old female child with hepatitis B treated with monopolar electrocautery

“…Thus, proper preventive measures must be adopted with strict protocol to prevent the transmission of the virus. [ 9 ] No dental treatment other than urgent care should be rendered because the individuals still carry the virus up to three months after the symptoms have disappeared. [ 10 ] In the present case, since the lesion bleeds on slight provocation, such as on having food, it was treated immediately due to patient discomfort.…”

Prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis-B in the Out Patient Department of a Private Dental College Hospital Chennai, India

“…Studies show that patients with periodontal diseases show higher detectability of surface antigen of HBV in whole unstimulated saliva 17,18 . The magnitude of prevalence of hepatitis-B has increased ten times in the past ten years, however the prevalence of it in dental practice in India is comparatively low, about 0.3% 19 . Occupational exposures should be reported immediately to prevent further collateral damage.…”