Associations between occupational health behaviors and occupational dental erosion.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between occupational health behaviors and occupational dental erosion.


METHODS
Using data for 943 workers among 34 factories, selected by three-stage stratified cluster sampling from 888 factories using acids, two sets of modified case-control studies were performed. The cases were 242 workers with any dental erosion (G1-5) and 78 with severe dental erosion (G3-5); the controls were 701 workers with no erosion (GO) and 864 workers with no or mild erosion grades, GO-2, respectively. The main explanatory variables were behaviors such as wearing a respiratory mask and gargling at work. The results were adjusted for employment, age, sex, knowledge, and opinion about occupational health, attrition, and abrasion. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
The odds of overall occupational dental erosion (G1-5) was 0.63 (95% CI = 0.42, 0.94) for respiratory mask wearers compared to nonwearers; the odds of severe occupational dental erosion (G3-5) was not significantly less in respiratory mask wearers (OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.53, 1.67). Gargling did not show a significant association with occupational dental erosion in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Among occupational health behaviors, wearing personal protective respiratory masks in work was significantly associated with less overall occupational dental erosion.
Kim
Hyun-duck
HD
Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Seoul National University, 28, Younkeon-dong, Chongro-ku, Seoul, 110-460, Korea. hyundkim@unitel.co.kr
Douglass
Chester W
CW
D000143:Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*
D000143:Acids; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational