The effect of age, sex, race, and economic status on dental caries experience of the permanent dentition. Committee to Review the Ten-State Nutrition Survey of 1968-1970.

The Ten-State Nutrition Survey data show a consistent, dramatic, and meaningful difference in dental caries experience between black and white children at all ages. This difference transcends socioeconomic grouping, nutritional level, and developmental status. This study also has shown an apparently protective effect of poverty insofar as dental caries is concerned. Children from lower-income families experienced less dental caries than children from higher-income families.

Herpetic whitlow: an occupational disease of practicing dentists.

Recurrent herpes simplex virus lesions of fingers, hand, or eyes are suspected to be encountered in health practitioners in greater frequency than in the general population. To determine whether an increased risk of disease contraction coincident to practicing dentistry exists and to determine the magnitude of risk, a survey of dentists practicing in the state of Michigan was conducted. An age and sex matched nondentist patient from each respondent's practice provided a control population. Frequency of herpes labialis and herpes infection of the eye were found be lower in dentists than in the control population. Conversely, herpetic whitlow was found to be more frequent in practicing dentists than in the control population. If the occurrence of herpes labialis in each of the two groups is taken as the reference point, the frequency of herpetic whitlow is significantly higher among practicing dentists than among the control population (P less than .01).

Prevalence of herpes simplex virus disease in a professional population.

By virtue of occupation, dentists are frequently exposed to the herpes simplex virus. The risk of infection by the virus was evaluated by assessing disease experience as shown by history compared with the results of complement fixing or antibody titration tests, or both.

Potential public health risks related to mercury/amalgam discharge from dental offices.

Mercury is a toxic and bioaccumulative metal. It exists in elemental, inorganic and organic forms. The use of mercury by the dental profession represents approximately 6 percent of the total annual domestic consumption and is estimated to contribute significantly to the discharge of mercury (14 percent in one study) to waste-water streams. Publicly owned treatment works (POTW) must obtain and comply with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System waste-water discharge permit. When minimal mercury discharge limits into surface waters are exceeded, an upstream search for contributors of mercury to the waste stream may result. Given the present sociopolitical environment, mercury discharge from dental offices will increasingly receive scrutiny. Strategies to minimize discharge of mercury/amalgam waste include engineering controls such as changes in the discharge process, changes in the composition of commercial products, and changes in control equipment. Governmental strategies include an outright ban, the setting of discharge standards, and educational efforts. Study of these strategies with evaluation of effectiveness is needed.