TEETH ABRASION AMONG ARSENIC EXPOSED AND NON-EXPOSED POPULATION

This was a cross-sectional comparative study to explore teeth abrasion among the arsenic exposed and non exposed population in selected arsenic contaminated and non-contaminated areas of Bangladesh. A total of 600 respondents were selected of which 200 arsenicosis patients, 200 arsenic exposed but not arsenicosis patient, and another 200 were arsenic non-exposed individuals. The study revealed that 19% of arsenicosis patients had teeth abrasion while amongst non-arsenicosis arsenic exposed and non-arsenic exposed respondents, 9% and 2.5% had teeth abrasion respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). This study revealed that there was a tendency of occurring higher proportion teeth abrasion amongst the arsenicosis population. Further the study revealed that older people having arsenic exposure were more vulnerable for developing teeth abrasion.