Detection of hepatitis C virus in saliva before and after scaling of dental calculus.

Dentists and dental health care workers are at risk of contracting hepatitis C virus (HCV) through dental treatment, since HCV RNA was reported to be easily detectable in the saliva of patients with chronic HCV liver disease. We tested for the presence of HCV RNA in saliva before and after removal of dental calculus, and in splashes on the chin-length face shields of dentists following treatment of six patients with HCV chronic liver diseases. We used a sensitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, to estimate exposure to HCV. All patients were anti-HCV and HCV RNA seropositive. HCV RNAs in saliva before or after scaling treatment were detected in three of the six, but none of the face shields showed positive samples. In conclusion, dentists and dental health care workers should be aware of the possibility of HCV infection via contact with serum and saliva during dental practice.