Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry (Jan 2014)

Oral health status of battery factory workers in Kanpur city: A cross-sectional study

  • Suchi Khurana,
  • C Jyothi,
  • C L Dileep,
  • K Jayaprakash

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/2319-5932.140254
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 2
pp. 80 – 87

Abstract

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Background: The oral cavity is vulnerable to external agents and some occupational exposures are associated with oral changes in both hard and soft tissues. Objectives: To assess oral health status in battery factory workers of Kanpur city and to describe the prevalence and nature of oral health problems among workers. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 battery workers were enrolled and divided into study and control groups based on acid exposure. The data was recorded on a modified World Health Organization 1997 proforma. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 15.0. The categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test for proportions while the quantitative ordinal variables were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test. Quantitative continuous variables were compared using Independent samples t-test. Results: The mean age of all the workers surveyed was 36.24 years. Differences in the erosion, oral hygiene and gingival index scores among the two groups were highly significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Oral health status was poor and significantly associated with dental erosion.

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