Hepatitis B virus infection in the dental profession.

This paper has presented information concerning the degree of hepatitis B infection in the dental profession. This disease is being transmitted from patients to dentists, dental staff members, and their families by both percutaneous and nonpercutaneous routes. Only one of five infections is clinically diagnosed, deeming the patient's medical history an unreliable indication of potential infectivity. All members of the dental profession are at a risk at least three times higher than the general population of contracting this disease and developing the carrier state. Unfortunately, as undiagnosed carriers, members of the dental profession can also unknowingly infect other staff personnel, patients, and family with widespread ramifications.