Can creutzfeldt-jakob disease be spread during regular dental procedures?

Yes: Even with proper sterilization techniques, pirons which cause cjd can be transmitted by infected instruments.

Unlikely: Jakob cretzfeldt disease is a prion diease whos vector of transmission appears to be through injestion of or infection from infected organ tissues such as brain, nervous tissue and ptiuitary glands. Currently there is no evidence of person to person transmission following intimate contact or blood transfusion. Also there is no evidence of increased occupational risk amoung treating mds and ddss.

Dental implications: The current literature indicates it can not be spread dentally during dental visits. J dent res. 2008 jun;87(6):511-9. Implications for creutzfeldt-jakob disease (cjd) in dentistry: a review of current knowledge. Walker jt, dickinson j, sutton jm, marsh pd, raven nd.

Not likely: Creutzfeldt-jakob disease is caused by a prion (similar to a virus). Current evidence shows that it may be transmitted in a manner similar to "mad cow" disease (via brain and spinal fluid contact). There also may be a hereditary component. There are no known cases of infection from blood contact, or even from transfusions. More info: http://www.Ninds.Nih.Gov/disorders/cjd/detail_cjd.Htm#186493058.