Introduction: The workplace of a laboratory dental prosthetist (LDP) is a laboratory where an individual mainly manufactures a wide variety of dental replacements by hand with the help of a wide variety of devices and tools. Due to the nature of the work, individuals in this profession are exposed to physical, biological, ergonomic, psychological and chemical hazards. We focused mainly on the latter. Today, a wide selection of materials is available in dentistry, which can be divided into preventive, restorative and auxiliary materials. Restorative dental materials are usually divided into 4 groups: metal, ceramic, polymer and composite materials. Each group of materials has specific properties that give them a wide range of uses in dentistry. Inhalation of dust particles is one of the main hazards in the LDP workplace. Unlike most other pollutants, which are classified by chemical composition, the most common division of dust particles is based on their size. They are divided into ultrafine (PM0.1; respiratory), fine (PM1; PM2.5 -respiratory) and coarse fraction (PM10 - inhalation). Frequent exposure to dust particles can cause respiratory symptoms of respiratory diseases as a result of occupational exposure. The main target organ for toxic exposure and injury from occupational inhalation of hazardous chemicals and dusts is the lung. The basic processes for processing dental implants in the dental laboratory, where dust particles are the main product, are grinding, sandblasting and polishing. Of course, dust also occurs during the mixing, application and application of materials during the manufacturing and processing of the dental prosthesis. Of these, the smallest respiratory fraction is the most dangerous. Despite the fact that dental materials are mostly biocompatible, these are extremely small dust particles that penetrate to the alveoli, where they complicate gas exchange and can even circulate with the blood circulation throughout the body. Exposure to dust is a well-known health hazard, especially when working in industrial production. Pneumoconioses, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, dust-related diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, systemic connective tissue disease, and even kidney dysfunction are all diseases associated with inhalation of dust particles. In the daily dental work environment, macroscopic dust particles are often found in the air, especially during the processing of dental restorations. This problem persists despite many efforts to improve the working environment. Purpose: The aim of the diploma work was to present the working environment of occupational health and safety workers, the materials used and to focus on the impact of inhalation of dust particles during the processing of dental implants, to clarify what dust particles are and how they affect the body when inhaled, to touch on the issue of the occurrence of related occupational diseases and to draw attention to the importance of using personal protective equipment and the ventilation system. Methods: The thesis is based on a literature review, such as scientific books. When writing the thesis, we used a descriptive method of work based on reviewed Slovenian and foreign professional literature and scientific articles and books. Literature was searched by Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science databases. Discussion and conclusion: Results mostly confirmed the connection between exposure to the dust of dental materials and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and common lung diseases such as fibrosis and pneumoconiosis. Laboratory dental prosthetists, who during their work use metal structures, sandblaster to clean metal castings, are particularly exposed to silicosis, which is the result of inhaling silicon oxide particles. It is the most common form of pneumoconiosis among laboratory dental prosthetists. In addition, in the removed affected lung tissue of laboratory dental prosthetists, metal particles were found as well. They corresponded sto the raw materials of dental metals, and with this finding, in my opinion, a new parallel began to be drawn between the work of laboratory dental prosthetists and occupational diseases related to inhaled dust, which is not only a result of inhalation of silica sand and sandblasting but also of inhalation of particles of other dental materials.
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