Dental surgeons belong to the group of clinicians who
are at a very high risk of getting diseases from their clients.These organisms tend
to get transmitted in dental clinics by (1) direct contact
with blood, oral fluids, or other patient materials;
(2) indirect contact with contaminated objects (e.g.
instruments, equipment, or environmental surfaces);
(3) contact of conjunctival, nasal, or oral mucosa with
droplets (e.g. spatter) containing microorganisms
generated from an infected person by coughing, sneezing,
or talking; and (4) inhalation of airborne microorganisms.FIGURE 8.1: A modern dental clinic
Dental patients and dental surgeons can be exposed
to many pathogenic microorganisms including cytomega?lovirus (CMV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus
(HCV), herpes simplex viruses (HSV 1 and 2), HIV,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, staphylococci, streptococci,
and many other microorganisms that colonize or infect
the oral cavity and respiratory tract.(i) a pathogenic organism, (ii) reservoir or
source, (iii) mode of transmission, (iv)a portal of entry
and (v) a susceptible host.