Abstract
Studies have shown that domestic waste collectors are exposed to toxicants including infectious pathogens, which may be linked to their oral health conditions. This cross-sectional study evaluated the dental caries and its associated factors among domestic waste collectors. A total of 301 adult men who worked for a waste collection corporation were included; 171 men worked in direct contact with domestic solid waste and 130 did not. Sociodemographic data, working, and medical history were assessed. The decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index was examined. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with dental status with a significance level of 5%. The overall mean DMFT score was 8.36±5.64. The mean DMFT, missing teeth (MT), and filled teeth (FT) were significantly higher in workers who did not have any direct contact with waste (p≤0.04). In the logistic analysis, DMFT ≥8 was only associated with older age (OR=8.41 [95% confidence interval (95%CI), 5.01–14.12], p<0.001). Decayed teeth (DT) ≥2 was associated with no previous oral hygiene instruction (OR=2.70 [1.50–4.81], p=0.001) and no daily dental flossing (OR=4.26 [1.92–9.43], p<0.001). MT ≥9 was associated with lower education level (OR=3.33 [1.57–7.10], p= 0.002). FT≥3 had a negative association with low income (OR= 0.42 [0.25–0.70], p<0.001) and no daily flossing (OR=0.42 [0.23–0.76], p=0.004). In conclusion, occupational exposure to domestic solid waste was not associated with poor dental status. Instead, age, education, income level, and oral hygiene were associated with dental health status. Missing teeth constituted the major component of the DMFT index. Therefore, prevention and oral rehabilitation programs are necessary to improve dental health.
Highlights
Waste management, including collection, transport, sorting, processing, and disposal, is an issue of social concern owing to its environmental influence and its effects on public health
43.2% had direct contact with domestic solid waste, 50.5% had been working at this company for between 5 and 30 years, and 77.1% worked in the day shift
The mean DMFT, missing teeth (MT), and filled teeth (FT) were significantly higher in workers who did not have any direct contact with waste (p ≤ 0.04), but the mean Decayed teeth (DT) did not differ between groups (p = 0.151; Fig. 2a–d)
Summary
Waste management, including collection, transport, sorting, processing, and disposal, is an issue of social concern owing to its environmental influence and its effects on public health. In this context, waste workers play an essential role. Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases and the most common oral condition worldwide and is considered the main indicator of oral health (Dye et al 2012; Bukhari 2020) This is a disease where multiple factors act together in highly complex processes and cause the bacterial community to change in balance to a dysbiotic community. It was hypothesized that a higher decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index is related to direct contact with solid waste at work
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