ORIGINAL ARTICLE Respiratory morbidity in a population of French dental technicians

Aims: To compare wage earner dental technicians with non-exposed salaried subjects for the preva-lence of respiratory symptoms and function, and chest x ray abnormalities. Methods: A total of 134 dental technicians and 131 non-exposed subjects participated. A medical and an occupational questionnaire were filled in to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and occupational exposures. Subjects underwent respiratory tests and chest x ray examination. Results: Mean age of the dental technicians was 36.6 years with a mean duration of dental work of 16.5 years. There was a significant risk of cough (day and night) and usual phlegm in dental techni-cians. Respiratory function parameters were lower in dental technicians with a significant difference between exposed and non-exposed groups for % FVC (forced vital capacity), % FEF25 (forced mid expiratory flow), and % FEF50. The prevalence of small opacities increased with age. Small opacities were significantly related to an exposure to asbestos in the past. Conclusions: Our young population of dental technicians is at risk of respiratory morbidity. They should benefit from adequate technical prevention measures. Dental technicians are exposed to dust and vapour duringthe manufacture of dental prostheses from the negativeimpression of the patient’s teeth obtained by the dentist. In the process, a positive mould is made of plaster. The proces