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Occupational tooth-wear in clothing industry workers
G Prpić-Mehicić1, D Buntak-Kobler, S Jukić
1Department for Dental Pathology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
Collegium Antropologicum
|February 10, 1999
Summary
Workers cutting thread with their teeth frequently cause tooth wear, affecting enamel and dentin. Education is key to preventing these dental issues and potential restorative problems.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Dental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Workers in clothing factories often use their teeth to cut threads, deviating from prescribed safety procedures.
- This habit can lead to significant dental issues, impacting tooth structure and integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and nature of tooth wear among workers habitually using their teeth to cut threads.
- To identify risk factors associated with thread-biting and assess the severity of dental damage.
Main Methods:
- Examined the inter-canine teeth of 59 volunteer clothing factory workers.
- Assessed incisal tooth damage, classifying defects in enamel and dentin.
- Compared tooth wear incidence based on thread material (polyester vs. regular sewing thread) and frequency of habit.
Main Results:
- 89.83% of workers exhibited incisal tooth damage, with enamel defects being most common.
- Polyester threads caused more severe damage than regular sewing threads (p < 0.05).
- No significant difference in wear was found between constant and occasional thread-biting.
Conclusions:
- Habitual thread-biting by workers leads to significant dental wear, affecting enamel and dentin.
- Awareness and education are crucial for preventing this occupational hazard and its associated aesthetic, functional, and restorative consequences.
- Warning workers about the risks of cutting threads with teeth is essential for prevention.