RAWALPINDI, July 2: Most of the dental clinics in private and public hospitals do not follow the sterilization protocol for disinfecting the equipment and thereby cause spread of diseases like hepatitis, a study shows.

The researcher told this reporter that he had found a significant association between the use of dental chair and incidence of hepatitis.

The incidence of hepatitis in people treated by dentists was found to be four per cent higher than in the general population.

The major cause of this spread is that instruments used in dentistry are not properly sterilized. Identifying the reasons for poor sterilization, the researcher said the high workload and dearth of dental instruments particularly in government hospitals meant that sterilization requirements could not be fulfilled properly.

He said another problem in dental clinics was the unethical attitude of most of the dentists and technicians. “Some have developed indifference to the needs of patients,” he regretted.

“This is very significant because of the high incidence of dental diseases among the general populace, 50 per cent of whom suffer from dental caries and have to visit a dentist ultimately,” he said.

The situation in country’s dental clinics is so alarming that those who can afford prefer to go abroad for treatment of dental ailments. Another reason for high prevalence of hepatitis among dental patients is the presence of large number of quacks in this field who are totally ignorant of the hygienic requirements for dental procedures.

In Pakistan, there is one dentist for as many as 33,629 people. Therefore, a large number of people have no option but to turn to quacks for treatment of dental ailments.