Table 1.

The results of the recent studies on the prevalence of HCV infection among dental health care workers (DHCWs)

Country	Population under study	Test	N exposed(% )	Main conclusion
Brazil, 2009 [15]	Dentists registered at the Minas Gerais Dental Council and working regularly in Belo Horizonte	Serum anti-HCV	1302 (0.9%)	The seroprevalence of anti-HCV among dentists was low. No occupational exposure conditions were associated to the seroprevalence of HCV.
Brazil, 2006 [16]	Dentists working in a town in the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil	Serum anti-HCV; confirmed by PCR	135 (0.7%)	The study alerts using standard precautions during professional dental practice to avoid occupational acquisition of HBV and HCV.
Israel, 2009 [17]	Dentists attending an annual dental conference	Serum anti-HCV	296 (0.33%)	The study did not mention HCV as a hazard to dental professionals. However, infection control guidelines should be strictly followed.
Japan, 2008 [18]	42 dentists, 35 dental hygienists, 41 dental assistants, 8 dental mechanics and 15 clerks	Serum anti-HCV	141 (0%)	Being a DHCW is not associated with HCV infection.
Germany, 2000 [19]	215 dentists and 108 dental assistants attending the 1997 annual meeting of the Berliner Zahnärztekammer	Serum anti-HCV	323 (0.3%)	These results suggest that occupational transmission of HCV in dental settings occurs sometimes, but not frequently. Infection with HBV is 25 times higher.