DENTISTSS OCCUPATIONAL ALLERGIC PARONYCHIA AND CONTACT-DERMATITIS CAUSED BY ACRYLICS

A 32-year-old female dentist developed severe fingertip dermatitis, ty pical of acrylics allergy, and associated paronychia. On patch testing she was positive to eight acrylics, including ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacryl ate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, which were also shown by gas c hromatography/mass spectrometry to be present in the particular dental products that she herself used at work. Five of these dental products , namely Scotchbond multipurpose primer and adhesive, Fuji LC liquid, and Dyract-PSA Prime adhesive and plastic, also gave allergic patch te st reactions. The dentist had immediate relapses when returning to wor k and should change to a job in which she would not be exposed to acry lics. Dental acrylics need to be made safer, or used more carefully, b ecause of the significant economic and mental stress inflicted on affe cted patients in cases of sensitization.