Bloodborne pathogens such as the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are potential occupational hazards for dentists.  Immunization against HCV infection is not available. Therefore, the use of standard precautions is extremely important for the prevention of HCV transmission in a dental care setting.  Objective:  This study surveyed the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies among dentists during the five-year period, 2000-05, to determine dentists' exposure to HCV.  Methods: From 2000 through 2005 a total of 5,422 U.S. dentists volunteered to participate in the ADA Health Screening Program (HSP), convened annually in different cities throughout the U.S.  Dentists completed a self-administered questionnaire covering personal health and demographic characteristics, as well as use of standard precautions.   Serum antibodies to HCV were screened by enzyme immunoassay and positive values confirmed by RIBA 2.0.  Results:  The average seroprevalence over five years was 0.47 ± 0.15% s.d. with a range of 0.25% to 0.84%.  Some samples did not meet all the criteria for a confirmed positive by RIBA and are considered indeterminate for HCV antibodies.  Indeterminate samples may become confirmed positives at a future sampling and are included to give an estimate of maximum seroprevalence.  The trend slope of the annual fraction of positives indicated a slight to no increase in HCV seropositivity.

Over 90% of dentists from this sample were immunized against HBV, and over 98% indicated that they always wore exam gloves when treating patients.  Percutaneous injuries were limited to about two per year per dentist.   Conclusions:  The prevalence of HCV antibodies among U.S. dentists is below the 1.8% level of the general population, and prevalence showed almost no tendency to increase with time.  High compliance with standard precautions likely is keeping exposure to HCV low.

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