TABLE 1.
Study Population Traits, Percentage and/or Mean (SD)
| Trait | Dentists (n = 164) | Dental assistants (n = 101) |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasian | 96% | 83% |
| Age at evaluation | 48.8 (7.7) | 36.0 (8.8) |
| Income in $1000s | 166.4 (103) | 45.9 (26.0) |
| BEES Vocabulary, N Corr. (n = 12) | 10.6 (0.9) | 8.2 (1.9) |
| Reading Test for the Word Pronunciation Test (WRAT3) | 52.6 (3.1) | 42.0 (3.0) |
| Test of Nonverbal lntelligence-3 (TONI-3) | 34.4 (6.6) | 28.6 (8.6) |
| Highest Academic Education Score | 7.0 (1.1) | 4.7 (0.9) |
| Snell Equivalent Right | 1.55 (1.8) | 1.78 (1.96) |
| Number of alcohol drinks per week | 4.1 (4.7) | 1.7 (2.3) |
| Number of fish meals per week | 1.7 (0.7) | 1.2 (0.7) |
| Medical history: % (n) | ||
| Use prescription drugs | 29% (n=48) | 59% (n=60) |
| Have a current physical impairment | 6% (n=10) | 10% (n=10) |
| Kidney problems | 5% (n=7) | 5% (n=5) |
| Antidepressant medications | 5% (n=8) | 11.9% (n=12) |
| Exposure: mean (SD) | ||
| Urinary mercury (HgU in µg/L) | 2.52 (2.22) | 1.98 (1.98) |
| Years exposed to mercury in dentistry | 19.10 (10.37) | 10.03 (7.64) |
| Number of mercury amalgam restorations | 16.03 (15.66) | 12.34 (10.77) |
| Chronic Index (Yrs*Type*# restorations/wk *Decade) | 1212 (1877) | 316 (429) |
| 5-HTTLPR genotype distribution | ||
| Homozygous common (I/I) | 40% | 20% |
| Heterozygous (l/s) | 40% | 56% |
| Homozygous (s/s) | 20% | 24% |