Abstract

Objective: Dental professionals are routinely exposed to blood and saliva, resulting in an elevated risk of blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study evaluated the knowledge of dentists and dental students concerning HBV, HCV, and HIV infections, their awareness of preventive strategies, and their attitudes toward individuals living with these infections.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed using a 30-item questionnaire distributed to dentists and dental students. The survey gathered information on demographic characteristics, infection control practices, vaccination history, knowledge of HBV, HCV, and HIV, and attitudes toward individuals with these infections. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and χ² tests for group comparisons.

Results: The study included 122 participants, consisting of 66 dental students (54.1%) and 56 dentists (45.9%). Mask and glove use was nearly universal in both groups, while face shield use was significantly more common among students (p=0.009). Among HBV, HCV, and HIV, 83.9% of dentists and 60.6% of students correctly identified HBV as the most prevalent infection in Türkiye (p=0.004). HBV vaccination rates were 91.1% among dentists and 65.2% among students (p=0.0006). The majority of participants (89%) indicated that treating individuals living with HIV is an ethical obligation. Over 70% of both groups reported a preference for additional protective measures, such as double masking and double gloving, when treating infected individuals.

Conclusion: Dentists and dental students demonstrated knowledge gaps regarding HBV, HCV, and HIV infections and frequently employed additional protective measures with limited scientific justification. A substantial proportion of participants were unaware of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. The relatively low HBV vaccination rate among students suggests insufficient awareness and increasing vaccine hesitancy. Enhanced education on infection control and immunization is essential to promote effective self-protection among dental professionals and to ensure access to standard dental care without discrimination for individuals with HBV, HCV, and HIV.