Abstract

PAREJA-PANE, Germán. Tuberculosis and dentistry. RCOE [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.3, pp.327-332. ISSN 1138-123X.

In this paper, we present a review of the basic aspects of tuberculosis and its implications for dentistry. Tuberculosis, an important public health problem during the first half of the last century, has progressively decreased as a consequence of the improvement in the living conditions, preventive measures taken and better treatments. Nevertheless, the introduction of new multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its increasing incidence among immunodeficient persons and other risk groups of the population have aggravated this problem. Tuberculosis is mainly transmitted by aerosols. Hence, it can be transmitted in dental settings, and, even though the risk of transmission is low, appropriate infection control strategies are needed.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Dentistry.

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