Pulmonary Function Testing in Dentists Versus Controls: A Pilot Study Exploring the Potential Respiratory-Related Occupational Hazards of Dentistry

Objective: Minimal research exists evaluating respiratory-related occupational hazards associated with dentistry in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulmonary function of dentists as compared with controls. Methods: This is a case-control study evaluating pulmonary function in dentists versus controls. Outcomes included measurements of percent predicted FEV1 (FEV1%), percent of predicted FVC (FVC%), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC). Results: Our findings indicate that dentists had a statistically significant lower percent predicted FEV1% (P 
Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine - Category: Occupational Health Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research