worried. Risk fo hep C.

[Mia456]

Hi,
Firstly I want to apologize for my poor English knowledge, but I hope that you will understand my question.
Also I would really appreciate an expert opinion since I am really worried.
Last week I was at the dentist. The procedure involved drilling into my tooth.
There was a bowl where people can spit on the left hand side of the dental chair. When the dentist finished with the work there was some dense saliva in my mouth. I tried to spit the saliva into the bowl. The saliva came into contact wiith the bowl but because the saliva was so dense it was also hanging from my mouth. I had to wipe my mouth with a handkerchief but my handkerchief was in my pocket. And as I was looking for the handkerchief the saliva returned into my mouth probably because it was dense. Immidiately after that incident i spat the saliva successfully and wiped my mouth.
Given that enyone can spit into the bowl and some people even have blood in their saliva I am really woried about possible infections. My saliva that touched the bowl probably also touched the mucous membranes of my mouth.
I am really scared and I do not know what to do. Shoul I get tested for hepatitis c? Should i get tested for other deseases?
Thank you!

[Dee1956]

I agree with both above,

Good luck

[can-do-man]

I TOTALLY agree with everything the above poster said!!!

Good luck

[coraggio]

Consult with your dentist about your concerns and if he agrees they are valid then have him pay for your multitude of testing concerns.  Personally, I think you're fine.  The likelihood of contracting HCV would be much greater from the tools used to probe your mouth and  drill your teeth if insufficiently sterilized rather than exposure from a spitting bowl.  BTW, if indeed you're able to resolve your issues with your current dentist, I'd a find a new dentist who is up to date because most dentists no longer have spitting bowls.  It's all about the suction apparatus in this day and age.  The more they suck the better off your are!