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Tooth surface loss and exposure to organic and inorganic acid fumes in workplace air
Author(s) -
Tuominen Maija Leena,
Tuominen Risto Juhani,
Fubusa Frank,
Mgalula Nigodemus
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1991.tb00149.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentistry , tooth surface , tooth loss , occupational exposure , environmental health , oral health
Abstract The effect of inorganic and organic acid fumes on teeth was explored in a cross‐sectional study using blind dental examinations. A sample of 180 workers from two factories was randomly drawn. Among the 169 workers who participated in the survey, 88 were exposed to acid fumes and 81 were controls. The percentage of inorganic acid workers with tooth surface loss was 63.2%, while that for the controls was 37.7% ( P < 0.005). The corresponding figures in the organic acid company were 50.0% and 14.3% ( P < 0.02). In both companies the acid workers had significantly more often teeth with surface loss in the maxilla than their controls ( P < 0.02). Both anteriors and posteriors were affected. On the basis of the findings, it can be concluded that acid fumes at work are strongly associated with tooth surface loss.