BACKGROUND The manufacture of dental prostheses exposes the technician to inhalation of various potentially dangerous dusts (silica, hard metals, dental alloys and acrylic resins). Inhalation of dusts produced by the technician in the work place may lead to several respiratory disorders (pneumoconiosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, lung cancer). The continuous development of new materials leads to further manifestations of these disorders and justifies their notification, even in the absence of an accepted occupational disease. This step is taken inconsistently as many dental technicians are not salaried or insured. CONCLUSIONS The seriousness of some of these disorders and the absence of effective treatment makes it important to develop effective methods of prevention for the protection of individuals and groups, and for early detection.