Epidemiology role in worker oral health actions planning

Abstract

This study is a review of published research findings in occupational exposures and their impact on oral health, emphasizing the relevance of epidemiological studies in the planning of workers' oral health programs. There are some studies reporting potential association between occupational exposures and oral diseases; nevertheless, there are few studies concerning workers oral health conditions in developing countries, as Brazil. In current dental literature related to occupational exposures, there are more publications about acid substances and sugar related exposures, as sugar dust. Oral diseases could arise both in hard tissues (caries, dental erosion) and soft tissues (oral mucous lesions, periodontal diseases, etc). On the other hand, the few existing workers oral health programs don't take into consideration specificities of population not only exposed to main oral health etiologic factors, but also submitted to other risk factors related to work environment. Therefore, it is important to discuss the need of producing more knowledge in this area, capacitating human resources and implementing more effective programs, based on worker's health surveillance.