Occlusal wear in miners.

The degree of occlusal wear was studied in two groups of miners, one with an employment time of 5-7 years and one who had been working in the mines for more than ten years. They were compared with two matched groups of white collar workers. In the two groups of miners a statistically significant higher degree of occlusal wear was found when comparisons were made with the control groups. The older miners had a poorer dental health and a higher degree of clinical signs of mandibular dysfunction than their control group, but no differences were found in these respects between the two younger groups. Because of this, it is concluded that the most possible reason for the differences found in occlusal wear between miners and white collar workers is differences in working environment, probably abrasive components in the air. In line with this, severe occlusal wear in miners ought to be classified as a damage caused by their work if no other factor can be traced as having a significant influence on the occlusal wear.