HUBUNGAN ANTARA LAMA PAPARAN UAP BELERANG DENGAN DERAJAT EROSI GIGI : Studi pada Pekerja Tambang Belerang di Gunung Welirang Kabupaten Pasuruan Jawa Timur

Abstract

Background: When the acid substances contact with the tooth, the enamel coat of the tooth will soften, and lose its mineral materials. Salivas will neutralize the acid condition and return it to initial condition. But if the exposure continue, neutralization failed and leading to erosion. The aim of this study was to prove that there was a correlation between length of sulphuric acid fumes exposure with dental erosion level. Methods: This was an observational analytical study with cross sectional design. Subjects were 27 sulphur miners at Mount Welirang Pasuruan East Java fulfilling inclusion criterias: man, 25 – 45 years old, work as a sulphur miner for at least 10 years, work at mount Welirang, Pasuruan, East Java, not using tooth protector while working, and not using tooth prothesis. Dental Erosion Index data were collected by direct examination of subject, classified according to Eccles and Jenkins Erosion Index (1974). Length of exposure data were collected by interview. The data were processed with SPSS 13.00 for Windows using Spearman test with level of significancy 0,05. Result: Spearman test showed that there was a moderate correlation with r=0,528 (r=0,40 – 0,599), and a significant correlation with p=0,005 (p<0,05) between length of sulphuric acid fumes exposure with dental erosion. Conclusion: There was a positive moderate significant correlation between length of sulphuric acid fumes exposure with dental erosion. Keyword: dental erosion, length of exposure, sulphuric acid fumes