Oral health status and treatment requirments of confectionery workers in Bangalore city. A comparative study.

The present study was undertaken to assess the oral health status and treatment requirement of cofectionery workers and also to assess the influence of confectionery environment ion their oral health. A total of 502 confectioners were examined and studied under 4 groups, Biscuits gp[107], chocolate gp[160], sweets gp[144] and Bakery gp[91]. Age and sex matched 294 wheat flour workers served as controls. 60.36% of confectioners exhibited caries experience with significantly higher DMFT compared to controls. Among confectioners sweets and chocolate groups had higher caries experience. Increase in caries experience with increase in duration of employment among confectioners were observed. Also confectioners consuming confectionery products more than 6 times/day had significantly higher caries experience than those consuming 0 to 3 and 4 to 6 times/day. Periodontal diseases was significantly higher among confectioners than controls more so in sweets and biscuit groups. Further extensive unmet treatment needs like oral prophylaxis, periodontal therapy, extractions, prosthetic rehabilitations were observed among confectioners.