Health and safety of pregnant workers in dental practices

This leaflet provides information on maternity protection in dental practices and gives suggestions and tips on how pregnant and breastfeeding staff can work safely. The leaflet includes a checklist for employers.
Pregnant and breastfeeding workers in dental practices and dental laboratories are exposed to a number of hazards. This includes all activities involving hazardous substances, such as mercury from amalgam alloys, toxic individual components of polymerisation plastics and other substances that can cause diseases. The risk of infection by viruses in the blood or saliva (hepatitis and HIV) is at the top of the list of possible dangers.