Abstract

The aim of this epidemiological study was to determine the level of hard dental tissue lesions in an air-polluted environment, as well as to evaluate, as one of the factors, the impact of the environment on the occurrence of these lesions and their frequency. An epidemiological study was conducted in the city of Pancevo, which is is one of the most powerful industrial centers in Serbia. 160 patients of both sexes aged 20 years and more, were subjected to routine clinical examinations. The control group consisted of 160 patients of both sexes from Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The Klein-Palmer DMFT system and SiC index were calculated in assessing the prevalence of dental caries. Also, teeth indicated for extraction, were analyzed for the presence of heavy metals. The average value of the DMFT index in the investigated group and in the control group was 20.41 and 16.52 respectively. A highly statistically significant difference (p = 0.0024) was found in the group of patients aged 51 to 60 years, and extremely statistically significant difference (p = 0.0005) in the group of patients aged over 60 years. SiC index values were also higher in all age groups from the investigated group than in the control group. In patients of all age groups from the investigated group, a statistically significantly higher value for lead concentration in extracted teeth than in patients from the control group was documented. Noncarious lesions were diagnosed in 44% patients from the investigated group and 24% patients from the control group. The most common lesions in patients from the investigated group were irregular (50%) and wedge-shaped (47%) defects. In patients from the control group a significantly higher percentage of irregular shaped defects (80%) was diagnosed compared to wedge-shaped defects (19%). The results of this study indicate that a polluted environment is one of the factors that cannot be ignored in hard dental tissue lesions etiology, but also requires confirmation by further comprehensive basic research.

Key words: polluted environment, hard dental tissue lesions, noncarious cervical lesions, heavy metals.