Potential Risk of Prion Transmission during Periodontal Surgeries

Abstract

ABSTRACT Prion diseases are a cluster of neurodegenerative diseases seen in both animals and humans and are often invariably fatal. The defining characteristic of prion diseases are the accumulation of abnormal prion proteins in the central nervous system. The prion proteins are not decontaminated with conventional sterilization procedures and persist on metal instruments in contact with infected materials, thus giving rise to queries on cross-contamination during periodontal surgical procedures. This article is a review of literature of prion diseases, collected using the search engines of PubMed and Medline, to analyze the oral manifestations of prion diseases and to investigate the possibility of cross-contamination during periodontal therapy. We conclude by highlighting the need for awareness of prion diseases by periodontists and suggest appropriate decontamination procedures to prevent iatrogenic spread. Key message Iatrogenic transmission during regenerative periodontal surgeries with alloplasts and zoografts along with cross-contamination from previously used inadequately disinfected surgical instruments constitutes a very real risk for prion infection transmission in the periodontal office. How to cite this article Ganesh PR. Potential Risk of Prion Transmission during Periodontal Surgeries. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2016;5(1):60-63.