[The state of teeth and low salivary secretion in miners working at different workposts and depths].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this work was to find out whether a relationship between the workpost in the mine and the state of teeth and salivary secretion does exist. It was investigated whether different environmental conditions find their reflection in miners' dentition, and also whether excessive dustiness can be responsible for low salivary secretion.


METHODS
Four groups of miners were analyzed: those working in coal face and walls, and those working at depths of 525 and 1030 m. Martin's and DMFT indices were used to assess the condition of teeth.


RESULTS
The lowest value of DMFT coefficient (18.2) was found in miners working in walls and the highest (19.7) in miners working in coal faces; the values of Martin's coefficient were 16.68 and 17.46, respectively. The difference between values for miners working at depths of 525 and 1030 was insignificant (0.1). Arithmetical means for saliva investigation were very similar in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no essential differences in the dentition of the miners working at different workposts. The relationship between excessive dustiness, reduced saliva secretion and increased DMFT coefficients was ascertained.
Błakała-Zawronek
Ewa
E
Z Zakładu Propedutyki Stomatologii, Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej w Bytomiu. zawronki@poczta.onet.pl
Kaszuba
Michał
M
Ilewicz
Leszek
L
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D003032:Coal Mining; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011044:Poland; D012472:Salivation; D014070:Tooth
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust