Original scientific paper
The Condition of Tooth Hard Tissue Among Workers in the Battery Manufactory
Slavica Manojlović
; Nova bolnica Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dunja Buntak-Kobler
; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dora Najžar-Fleger
; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
In this work 100 people were examined. Half o f them work in the battery stations (of battery manufactory), in the departments with closed technological process o f forming battery plates. Other half of the examined sample was a control group. The aim o f this work is to indicate the condition o f tooth hard tissue among workers in the battery manufactory. For this purpose, prevalence o f erosion and caries, stage of oral hygiene and the state of gingiva were examined.
No clinically visible erosion changes were found at workers. This may be due to better working conditions (they work in close technological process o f forming battery plates), fluctuation o f the concentration o f sulphuric acid within tolerable (acceptable) values (1-1,75 mg/m3), as well as to carrying out selfprotection at work (1st group - 92%, 2nd group - 68%). The increase o f caries is significant among examinees working full time (2nd group) in comparison to those working only half time (1st group), as well as to those who were not working under the
same conditions (control group). It could be the sign o f longer exposure to unfavourable conditions (acid vapourisedlsaturated atmosphere) and presents possible predisposing factor to the greater
sensitivity of teeth to the caries demineralization, caused by the external factors. Among examinees, working full time, much more tartar is found and more inflamatory changes on the gingiva. That can be brought into relation with poorer oral hygiene in the group. Because o f that, it is necessary to carry out prevention measures
with teeth fluoridation among those working in the battery stations
(battery manufactories). Special stress should be given to health education and more frequent check up.
Keywords
tooth hard tissue; enamel erosion; battery manufactory
Hrčak ID:
99885
URI
Publication date:
15.6.1993.
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