Oral Hygiene Practices and Dentition Status of Public Transport Workers of India- A Cross-sectional Study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the oral hygiene practices and dentition statuses of transport workers who were working in a public bus transport system (C.T.U.) of Chandigarh (U.T.), India.


METHODS
The data were recorded on a modified W.H.O. format (1997). A total of 1008 subjects constituted the final sample size. Information was obtained regarding the oral hygiene practices and clinical examinations were conducted. Statistical analysis was done by using ANOVA and Z-test.


RESULTS
The mean age of the subjects was 45.3 ± 7.8 years. Mean DMFT of the subjects who were not using tobacco in any form was 5.02. 80.2% (808). 88.7% of the subjects brushed their teeth as least once a day. Mean number of decayed and missing teeth were 1.67 ± 2.16 and 1.46 ± 2.8, respectively and their relation with age was found to be statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental caries was found to be major indication in all the age groups. More elderly subjects than young needed extractions. This study emphasized the need of an improved dental awareness and availability of dental facilities to transport workers.
Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital , Rajpura, Punjab, India .
Ramandeep Singh
RS
Gambhir
Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Rayat and Bahra Dental College and Hospital , Mohali, Punjab, India .
Ramandeep Kaur
RK
Sohi
Professor, Department of Prosthodonics, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital , Rajpura, Punjab, India .
Gurminder
G
Singh
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Harvansh Singh Judge Dental College , Chandigar, India .
Rajdeep
R
Brar
Associate Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital , Rajpura, Punjab, India .
Harpreet
H
Singh
Consultant, Community Dental Centre , Chandigarh, India .
Heena
H
Kakar
Dentition Status; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene Practices; Transport Workers