New Research Reveals High Prevalence of Periodontal Disease Among Seafood Industry Employees

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have conducted a study to assess the periodontal status, prevalence of oral mucosal lesions, and oral habits among seafood industry employees in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 162 participants, using the WHO oral health questionnaire for adults and the oral health assessment form for adults. The study found that the majority of the subjects used a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean their teeth, but there was a high prevalence of smoking and tobacco chewing habits among the participants. The research concluded that the findings of this study provided an insight into the periodontal health status, oral habits, and the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions of seafood industry employees in Visakhapatnam, which may be useful in designing and planning oral health promotion programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 98.1% of the subjects used a toothbrush and 97.5% used toothpaste to clean their teeth.
  • The prevalence of smoking and tobacco chewing habits was recorded among 41 (25.3%) and 21 (12.9%) subjects, respectively.
  • The prevalence of periodontal disease was 79.6% among the study population.
  • About four (2.4%) subjects had leukoplakia, five (3.1%) subjects had ulcerations, and three (1.8%) subjects had smoker's palate.
  • The study suggests that there is a need for oral health promotion programs among seafood industry employees in Visakhapatnam district.
  • The research was conducted by Anakapalli Sai Praharsh from the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Anil Neerukonda Institute of Dental Sciences, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, along with other authors L. V. K. Reddy, Pydi Sivakumar, Pottem Nagarjuna, Rachuru Yashwanth Sai, and Polapala Sugeethika.

Statistics:

  • 98.1% of the subjects used a toothbrush to clean their teeth.
  • 97.5% of the subjects used toothpaste to clean their teeth.
  • 25.3% of the subjects were recorded to have smoking habits.
  • 12.9% of the subjects were recorded to have tobacco chewing habits.
  • 79.6% of the study population had periodontal disease.
  • 2.4% of the subjects had leukoplakia.
  • 3.1% of the subjects had ulcerations.
  • 1.8% of the subjects had smoker's palate.

Sources:

  • Prevalence of periodontal disease, oral mucosal lesions and oral habits among seafood industry employees of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The Saint's International Dental Journal, 2024,8(2).
  • DOI: 10.4103/sidj.sidj_1_25.
  • Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) - publisher of The Saint's International Dental Journal.