Different dental caries patterns among smelter workers with dental erosion

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of dental caries among smelter workers with mild dental acid erosion. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 350 male workers at a copper-mine smelter in Japan revealed 28 cases of mild dental erosion. 26 subjects aged 40 yr and over were compared for their caries pattern with non-cases in the corresponding age groups. Results: Although the number of overall DMFT (decayed, missing or filled teeth) was similar in the two groups (mean ± standard error, 14.7 ± 1.1 and 14.7 ± 0.4, respectively), site-specific DMFT had a different pattern: DMFT was significantly (p=0.012) less for maxillary anterior teeth among the cases (1.4 ± 0.3) compared with the non-cases (2.5 ± 0.1). The caries prevalence pattern of the non-cases was similar to that reported in the general population. Conclusion: The different caries pattern among the workers who had developed dental erosion indicates that low-level but consistent exposure to acid could have changed the risk for dental caries, possibly through the interactions of environmental acid and the pH-buffering action of saliva.