Are Dentists Dying From Mercury Poisoning?

In June 2017, the CDC reviewed medical records from 894 patients diagnosed with IPF and treated at one clinic from September 1996 to June 2017, looking for those with an occupation of dentist, dental hygienist or dental technician. Nine of the patients, or 1 percent, were dental personnel. Considering the small number of dentists in the U.S. relative to the overall population (0.038 percent in 2016), the fact that they represented nearly 1 percent of patients being treated for IPF at one clinic was noteworthy. In fact, the CDC analysis revealed that the dental workers were 23 times more likely to develop IPF compared to the general population.