Abstract
Health-care workers have an occupational risk of infection with hepatitis B virus
(HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Since dental healthcare professionals have numerous
patients and are exposed to blood, they are likely to have the maximum risk. HBC and
HCV are transmitted by skin prick with infected, contaminated needles and syringes
or through accidental inoculation of minute quantities of blood during surgical and
dental procedures. HBV can be prevented by strict adherence to standard microbiological
practices and techniques, and routine use of appropriate barrier precautions to prevent
skin and mucous membrane exposure when handling blood and other body fluids of all
patients in healthcare settings and pre-exposure vaccines. Despite many publications
about programs and strategies to prevent transmission, HBV and HCV infections remain
a major public health issue. Oral clinical manifestations can be observed, such as
bleeding disorders, jaundice, fetor hepaticus, and xerostomia. The most frequent extrahepatic
manifestations mostly affect the oral region in the form of lichen planus, xerostomia,
Sjögren′s syndrome, and sialadenitis. The present paper highlights some of the important
oral manifestations related to hepatitis B and C infection and various post-exposure
protocols that can be undertaken to minimize the risk of infection.
Keywords
Dentistry - hepatitis - management - transmission