[Contact dermatitis due to professional activity among dental health care personnel].

A questionnaire related to occupational health problems was mailed to 800 participants at the annual meeting of the Norwegian Dental Association in 1987. 259 persons completed the questionnaire. During the last year 82 respondents had experienced dermatoses on their hands or face for variable periods. Of this group, 51 were disturbed by the dermatoses and 15 had attended a doctor. The most prevalent reasons for the dermatoses were frequent hand washing and detergents, and the use of rubber gloves. Seventy-nine percent of all respondents routinely used gloves while treating patients. A weak relationship was observed between certain dental materials or working procedures, and the topography and characteristic of the dermatoses.