Variation of dental erosion status in a chemical factory on 1982 to 1991 in Osaka Prefecture

Abstract

An examination on dental erosion has been carried out for workers in a chemical factory in Osaka Prefecture twice a year on 1982 to 1991. While the proportion of workers with dental erosion to all the subjects examined was found to be 30.2% on 1982 to 1983, the proportion was lowered to 2.5% on 1990 to 1991. No erosion tooth was observed among workers who had been employed in the factory on and after October in 1975. An novel occurrence or a development of the erosion teeth has been observed rarely throughout the periodical examination for 10 years. Erosion teeth occurring on and before 1970s would contribute to the high proportion of workers with dental erosion on 1982 to 1983; the erosion occurred rarely on and after 1980s. Among 71 workers with dental erosion on 1982 to 1983, thirty-six workers were examined on their erosion status on 1990 to 1991 by the periodical dental examination and 25 workers were examined by an additional dental examination or a questionnaire on erosion status in July on 1991. Among the 36 workers taking the periodical examination on 1990 to 1991, thirty workers were made completely care of their erosion teeth. However, only 9 workers were made care among the 25 workers not taking the periodical dental examination; workers having taken no care of the erosion teeth were observed at a high rate among workers not continuously taking the periodical examination.