IADR Abstract Archives

Effects of direct phosphate exposure on the oral health

Objectives: To compare the oral health between subjects exposed to phosphates and controls.
Methods: Tunisian males, who have been working in phosphate mines for more than three years (n=36) and controls living in the town of Gafsa (n=36) were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. General information was obtained using a predetermined questionnaire. The levels of plaque were recorded using the plaque index of Loe and Silness. Caries status was scored by using DMFT introduced by Klein and Palmer. Dean index was used to determine the severity of dental fluorosis. Tooth abrasion and oral lesions were diagnosed by visual examination. T student and chi square tests were used to compare respectively quantitative and qualitative data.




Results: The subjects in the two groups were matched in age, general health, medication, oral hygiene, frequency of tooth brushing and used similar quantities of tobacco and alcohol. The exposed group DMFT mean value was significantly higher when compared to controls (2.41 vs 5.36, p<0.05). In addition, subjects working in phosphate mines had 8 and 28 times the risk for developing respectively oral lesions and teeth abrasions. Finally, the frequencies of fluorosis, teeth abrasion, and oral lesions were significantly higher among the exposed group (respectively 100% vs 19,5%, 77,8% vs 11,1%, 61,1% vs 16,7% and p<0.05).
Conclusions: The results of the present investigation suggest that oral health is compromised by exposure to phosphate. Special programs should be directed to phosphate mines workers to increase their awareness.
Tunisian Section Meeting
2017 Tunisian Section Meeting (Monastir, Tunisia)
Monastir, Tunisia
2017

Cariology Research - Fluoride and Ca-based Products
  • Khemiss, Mehdi  ( Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital , Monastir , Tunisia )
  • Amaid, Nesrine  ( Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital , Monastir , Tunisia )
  • Chokri, Abdellatif  ( Faculty of Dental Medicine , Monastir , Tunisia )
  • Ben Khelifa, Mohamed  ( Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital , Monastir , Tunisia )
  • None
    Oral Session
    Oral Communication