Lung Cancer Risk in Male Dentists: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Japan, 1964–1997

Abstract

Lung Cancer Risk in Male Dentists: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Japan, 1964–1997: Nobuhiro Nishio, et al. Department of Hygiene, Kansai Medical University—It is reported that dentists are exposed to heavy metals in their clinics. To assess the risk of developing lung cancer among male Japanese dentists, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 3,314 members of Osaka Dental Association (Osakafu‐Shikaishikai). During 1964–1997, 39 were diagnosed with lung cancer, which figure was obtained from the file of the Osaka Cancer Registry. The observed number of lung cancers was compared with the expected number calculated by multiplying the number of person‐years at risk by the corresponding age‐ and calendar time‐specific incidence rate from the Osaka Cancer Registry data. The male dentists had no significantly different risk than general population.(O/ E=1.01, 95%CI=0.72–1.39). Contrary to expectation, these findings indicate that Japanese dentists had almost the same overall risk of developing lung cancer as the general population.

Outpatient Visits by Dentists: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan

“…In addition, several studies also reported an increased risk for skin cancer, especially melanoma, in dentists 2,36,37) . In a recent meta-analysis, Simning and Wijngaarden reported an estimated relative risk of 2.4 (95%CI 1.6, 3.7) for melanoma in male dentists, and to a lesser magnitude for female dentists (relative risk=2.0, 95% CI 1.1, 3.9) 14) . Although some of the previous reports argued that the elevated risks experienced by dentists may be related to social status level 2,36,37) or lifestyle (e.g., behavior related to sunlight exposure) 22) , the review by…”

“…Simning and Wijngaarden 14) still suggested that certain hazards in the workplace may account for such findings.…”

“…Compared to the general population, dentists were frequently found to experience lower rates of morbidity and mortality, mainly due to their relatively healthy lifestyle and better knowledge in disease prevention [1][2][3] . Despite that, the health of dentists should not be overlooked because it has been well recognized that various occupational and work environmental hazards could pose adverse effects to dentists, including musculoskeletal 4,5) / connective tissue 6) disorders, skin disease 7) , metabolic disorder 8) , infection [9][10][11] , gastroenterological disorder 12) , and cancer 13,14) .…”

Literature review of cancer mortality and incidence among dentists

“…[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] It has been argued that the implementation of protective measures (for example, gloves, masks, ventilation) and careful work practices in the US and other developed countries over the past decades has minimised any dentistry employment health risk, 9 59 but it is uncertain if this is also true in developing countries. Dentist mortality studies have generally shown a favourable risk pattern, but several studies have demonstrated an increased risk of specific cancers, including malignant melanoma, brain, and female breast cancers.…”

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] There has been concern that exposure to these hazards may impact the health of dentists and other dental personnel, particularly exposure to mercury and ionising radiation. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Additionally, there has been concern about the long-term health effects of exposure to dental amalgam and diagnostic x rays in patients. [22][23][24][25] Examinations in the late 1970s indicated elevated mercury vapour levels in more than 10% of all US dental offices, which could place these office workers at a greater cancer risk if mercury is indeed carcinogenic.…”