Respiratory Systems of Dental Technicians Negatively Affected during 5 Years of Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Dental laboratory technician is one of the professions in which dust exposure is frequently experienced and therefore the health of workers has to be monitored. AIMS: In this study, changes in the pulmonary functions and of pneumoconiosis frequencies among dental technicians after five years were investigated by comparing the results of two screenings carried out in 2008 and 2013. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: In 2008 and 2013, Provincial Health Directorate carried out two different health screenings covering all of the dental technicians working in dental laboratories in Denizli. In both screenings, a questionnaire was applied, with which socio-demographic and workplace properties of the technicians were obtained. In addition, Pulmonary function tests (PFT) and standard chest X-rays of the technicians were performed. The results of these two screenings were evaluated by a chest specialist, and physical examinations were performed as necessary. In 2013, technicians who had pathologies underwent computerized tomography (HRCT). In this study, the study group was composed of dental laboratory technicians that participated in both screenings (2008 and 2013) and the data obtained from the screenings were compared. The gathered data were analyzed using paired student-t and X(2) tests. RESULTS: A total of 125 dental laboratory technicians participated in the two screenings. Overall, 92% of the technicians were male and the mean age of the participants was 35. Technicians were working for 9 hours a day, 6 days a week. Total exposure time was calculated to be around 41 thousand hours. Approximately 60% of workers were smokers. When the results of PFT were analyzed, 73% of the first evaluations were found to be normal; however, this ratio decreased to 51% in the second analysis five years later. In the second PFT measurement, compared to the first, there was a 23% decrease in the forced vital capacity (FVC) value, and a 15.7% decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). While restrictive disorder was found 25% in the first PFT evaluations, this ratio increased to 31% in the second PFT. When the radiological results were considered, 62% of the first X-ray results were found to be normal but this ratio decreased to 18% in 2013. While reticular/reticulonodular opacities were found in 11% of cases in 2008, it increased to 30% in 2013. Seven technicians were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (5.6%). CONCLUSION: Respiratory tracts of the technicians were negatively affected during the five year period. The number of pneumoconiosis cases (5.6%) shows that it is necessary to adopt comprehensive work health and safety precautions for laboratories

The evaluation of the dust-related occupational respiratory disorders of dental laboratory technicians working in Denizli Province

INTRODUCTION: Dental laboratory technicians (DLTs) get exposed to fibrinogen dusts that are very risky dusts in terms of health. In this study, respiration complaints, pneumoconiosis frequencies and working conditions of the dental technicians in Denizli were investigated. METHODS: All of the registered DLTs working in Denizli were included in the study. A 30-item questionnaire was used to gather data about the participants and their working environments. Then, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were carried out and standard chest X-rays were taken in order to detect how much the respiratory systems of the workers were affected. Standard chest X-rays were evaluated according to International Labour Organizations classification. Depending on the screening results, technicians who were found to have had pathologies and suspected cases were examined. "High-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT)" was taken from those who were found to have pathology in their chest X-rays and they were evaluated according to the classification of Hering et al. RESULTS: There are a total of 166 DLTs working in Denizli Province participated in the study. One hundred and forty-three (86.1%) of the participants were male, and 23 of them were female. The mean age of the participants is 33.5 ± 8.1. Average working time of the workers is 16 years. Total exposure time was calculated 36,177 h. Approximately, 56% of workers were smokers. When the working conditions were considered, it was found that 98.8% of laboratories had a ventilation system. Technicians′ use of personal protective equipment is low. Participants′ often or continuous use of masks, gloves, goggles, and vacuum device was found 69%, 36%, 47%, and 63% respectively while working. About 21.2% of the technicians have respiratory symptoms while 15.2% of them have eye complaints. At the analysis of PFT results, 27.7% restrictive type pulmonary disorder was determined. At the analysis of chest X-rays; 1/0 profusion sub-category was 25.5%, and the large opacity rate was 16.9%. Ten pneumoconiosis cases (6%) were diagnosed after the analysis of the HRCT results. The ratio of pneumoconiosis was found much higher among male technicians, particularly those who have been working for a long time in the profession and those working at the town hospitals and Department of metal leveling. DISCUSSION: Technicians′ use of personal protective tools is not enough and ratio of smoking is rather high. Pneumoconiosis cases clearly show this exposure. It is necessary to adopt comprehensive work health and safety precautions considering the determined risk factors

Years of Follow-Up

Background: Dental laboratory technician is one of the professions in which dust exposure is frequently experienced and therefore the health of workers has to be monitored.Aims: In this study, changes in the pulmonary functions and of pneumoconiosis frequencies among dental technicians after five years were investigated by comparing the results of two screenings carried out in 2008 and 2013.Study Design: Cohort study.Methods: In 2008 and 2013, Provincial Health Directorate carried out two different health screenings covering all of the dental technicians working in dental laboratories in Denizli. In both screenings, a questionnaire was applied, with which socio-demographic and workplace properties of the technicians were obtained. In addition, Pulmonary function tests (PFT) and standard chest X-rays of the technicians were performed. The results of these two screenings were evaluated by a chest specialist, and physical examinations were performed as necessary. In 2013, technicians who had pathologies underwent computerized tomography (HRCT). In this study, the study group was composed of dental laboratory technicians that participated in both screenings (2008 and 2013) and the data obtained from the screenings were compared. The gathered data were analyzed using paired student-t and X-2 tests.Results: A total of 125 dental laboratory technicians participated in the two screenings. Overall, 92% of the technicians were male and the mean age of the participants was 35. Technicians were working for 9 hours a day, 6 days a week. Total exposure time was calculated to be around 41 thousand hours. Approximately 60% of workers were smokers. When the results of PFT were analyzed, 73% of the first evaluations were found to be normal; however, this ratio decreased to 51% in the second analysis five years later. In the second PFT measurement, compared to the first, there was a 23% decrease in the forced vital capacity (FVC) value, and a 15.7% decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). While restrictive disorder was found 25% in the first PFT evaluations, this ratio increased to 31% in the second PFT. When the radiological results were considered, 62% of the first X-ray results were found to be normal but this ratio decreased to 18% in 2013. While reticular/reticulonodular opacities were found in 11% of cases in 2008, it increased to 30% in 2013. Seven technicians were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (5.6%).Conclusion: Respiratory tracts of the technicians were negatively affected during the five year period. The number of pneumoconiosis cases (5.6%) shows that it is necessary to adopt comprehensive work health and safety precautions for laboratories

Denizli Ağız Diş Sağlığını Geliştirme Projesi; 3. Yıl Sonuçları

Amaç: Denizli’de ilköğretim öğrencilerinde ağız ve diş sağlığını (ADS) geliştirmeyi hedefleyen bu projede, öğrencilerin ADS profilinin çıkarılması, öğrencilere ADS konusunda doğru tutum ve alışkanlıkların kazandırılması, çene gelişimi açısından önemli olan kalıcı 1. azı dişlerinin koruma altına alınması ve 12 yaş grubunda DMF-t indeksinin 2’nin altına çekilmesi hedeflenmiştir. Bu yazıda projenin ilk üç yılında yapılan taramaların sonuçları ve gerçekleştirilen etkinlikler sunulmuştur. Yöntem: Çalışma 2008-2015 yıllarını kapsayan bir müdahale çalışmasıdır. Çalışmanın ana hedef grubunu ilköğretim 2. sınıf öğrencileri oluşturmaktadır. Her yıl ildeki tüm 2. sınıf öğrencilerine ulaşılarak sekiz yılın sonunda yaklaşık 120.000 öğrenciye ulaşılması hedeflenmektedir. Projenin eğitim, tarama, koruma ve kısmi tedavi boyutu bulunmaktadır. Bulgular: Başlangıç (ilk yıl) verilerimize göre öğrencilerin ağız-diş sağlığı oldukça kötü durumdadır. Tüm dişleri sağlam olan öğrencilerin oranı sadece %10.2’dir. Öğrencilerin %20’sinin ağız hijyeni kötüdür, %25,9’unun ortodontik tedavi gereksinimi bulunmaktadır. Öğrencilerin %41.4’ünde en az bir kalıcı diş çürüğü, %83.8’inde en az bir sütdişi çürüğü saptanmıştır. Öğrenci başına diş çürüğü ortalaması 4.8±3.5’dir. Süt dişleri için hesaplanan dmf-t indeksi 4.3, kalıcı dişler için hesaplanan DMF-t indeksi ise 1.0’dir. İlk üç yılda “ADS eğitimlerine” toplam 38.938 ikinci sınıf öğrencisi, 16.021 öğrenci velisi ve 3189 öğretmen katılmıştır. Taramalarda ise toplam 38.856 öğrenciye ulaşılmıştır. Gereken durumlarda öğrencilerin 1. büyük azı dişlerine fissur sealant uygulanmıştır. Toplamda üç yılda 4320 öğrencide 10725 dişe fissur sealant uygulanmış, ayrıca 1586 öğrencide 1898 diş çekimi yapılmıştır. Üçüncü yılda florvernik uygulaması ek koruyucu uygulama olarak projeye eklenmiştir. Üçüncü yılda öğrencilerin %40.4’üne (5097) florvernik uygulaması yapılmıştır. Sonuç: Öğrencilerin ADS düzeyi konunun önemini ve önceliğini açıkça ortaya koymaktadır. Aslında her yıl taranan öğrenciler yeni bir gruptur; bu nedenle projenin her yıl taramaya ve eğitimlere alınan 2. sınıf öğrencilerinin ADS üzerine doğrudan etkisi beklenmemektedir. Ancak taramalar okullarda yapıldığı ve eğitimlere hem ebeveyn hem de öğretmenler katıldığı için projenin toplamda olumlu bir etki oluşturduğu görülmektedir. Bu müdahale çalışmasının etkisinin değerlendirilmesi ilk grubun (1. yıl grubu) 12 yaşına (5. sınıfa) ulaştığında yapılacak değerlendirme ile ortaya çıkarılacaktır. Üçüncü yılı tamamlanan projede 8 yılın sonunda sadece öğrencilerde değil çarpan etki ile tüm Denizli halkında ağız ve diş sağlığının gelişmesi beklenmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Tarama, öğrenci, ağız-diş sağlığı, DenizliAn Oral and Dental Health Improvement Project in Denizli: Results over 3 Years Objective: In this project aimed at improving the oral and dental health (OADH) of primary school students we determined the OADH profile of the students, their attitude and behavior on OADH, their ability to protect the 1st molar teeth (which are important for chin development and to decrease the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMF-t index) under 2 in group of age 12. We present the activities and the results of screenings for the first three years of a more extended project. Method: This is a study of interventions during the years 2008-2015. The main target group of the study consisted of 2nd grade primary school students. It is planned to reach 120.000 students by the end of eight years, reaching all 2nd grade students in the city each year. There are training, screening and partial treatment dimensions to the study. Results: According to the initial (first year) data, the OADH status of the students is in a very bad condition. The percent of the students with completely healthy teeth is 10.2%. Oral hygiene of 20% of the students was bad and 25.9% of them require orthodontic treatment. At least one permanent tooth decay was present in 41.4% of the students and at least one decay in primary teeth was present in 83.8% of the students. The mean number of tooth decays per student was found to be 4.8±3.5. The DMF-t index was 4.3 for primary teeth and 1.0 for permanent teeth. In the first three years, a total of 38.938 second grade students, 16,021 parents and 3189 teachers participated in the study. A total of 38,856 students were reached in the screenings. Fissure sealant was applied on the 1st molar of the students when needed. In total, 10725 fissure sealant applications were made on 4320 students, also 1898 tooth cleaning were made on 1586 students. In the third year, application of flour varnish was included in the study as an additional protective practice. Flour varnish was used for 40.4% (5097) of the students in the third year. Conclusion: The OADH levels of the students clearly demonstrate the importance and priority of the subject. In fact the students screened each year are a new group, and for this reason, it is not anticipated that the project will have a direct influence on the OADH of the 2nd grade students included each year in the screenings and training. However the screenings made in the school and the training sessions attended by both parents and teachers has created a positive impact overall. The evaluation of the influence of this intervention study will be revealed with the assessment to be made when the first group (1st year group) will reach the age of 12 (5th grade). The third year of the project is finished and it is anticipated that, at the end of 8 years, the dental health of not only the students but the whole Denizli community will improve due to a multiplier effect. Key Words: Screening, student, oral health, Denizli </p