Prevalence of Tooth Wear Among Cement Factory Workers of Durg District, Chhattisgarh - An Evaluative Study

Abstract Introduction: Occupational hazards in the cement industry significantly increase the risk of oral diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with tooth wear among 800 cement factory workers in Durg, Chhattisgarh, to inform the planning of preventive oral health services. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among workers with at least 1 year of experience. Data on demographics, work history, and department were collected. Tooth wear was assessed using the tooth wear index (TWI), with statistical analysis performed via Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The mean age of participants was 32.71 ± 8.33 years. Cement mill workers had the highest prevalence of tooth wear with a mean TWI score for Score 1 (8.00 ± 3.57). Those with over 10 years of experience had significantly higher total TWI scores than those with less than 10 years for all categories of workers ( P < 0.001). Mean tooth wear scores were significantly lower among protective mask users than non-users, particularly with Score 1 and 2 ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Prolonged occupational exposure is associated with more severe grades of tooth wear, indicating the accumulative risk for poor dental health in cement factories. These results underline the importance of appropriate improved occupational safety and health measures such as routine dental examinations and the provision of personal protective equipment such as masks in the workplace for the well-being of employees. The results would be able to provide evidence for the decision-making and prevention programs toward raising awareness of occupational oral health among workers.