Relationship between Receiving a Workplace Oral Health Examination Including Oral Health Instruction and Oral Health Status in the Japanese Adult Population

Abstract

Relationship between Receiving a Workplace Oral Health Examination Including Oral Health Instruction and Oral Health Status in the Japanese Adult Population: Tadaaki Oshikohji, et al. Section of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science— Objectives Dental caries and periodontal disease are highly prevalent in the Japanese adult population. Oral examination is an effective method to ind various oral health problems in their early stages. However, workplace oral examination is not common in Japan. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between receiving workplace oral health examination, including oral health instruction, and oral health status in the Japanese adult population. Methods This study was performed using data from 4,484 Japanese employees aged 35–74 yr. The proportion of teeth with a probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm and the number of decayed teeth were used for periodontal disease and dental caries parameters. The subjects were asked by questionnaire about past experiences with workplace oral health examination. Results The subjects who Received a workplace oral health examination every year had better periodontal health status than those receiving an examination for the irst time. The odds ratio for having ≥10% of teeth with PD ≥4 mm in the subjects who Received workplace oral health examination every year was 0.63 (p<0.05) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking habits, tooth brushing habits, routine visits to dental clinics, number of missing teeth, and oral hygiene status, in a multivariate, multinomial logistic regression analysis. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between workplace oral health examination and number of decayed teeth. Conclusions These results suggest that workplace oral health examination accompanied by oral health instruction may be effective for maintenance of periodontal health.

Association between overtime work hours and preventive dental visits among Japanese workers

“…We believe that improving management of working hours and reducing the amount of overtime work are important factors for promoting preventive dental visits, which play a vital role in oral health. In addition to reducing overtime hours, it is important to consider other options, such as conducting dental examinations in workplace settings [25] or allowing workers to visit dental clinics during working hours, particularly younger workers and male workers aged over 40 years.…”

Oral health in the context of prevention of absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace

“…In 2002, Pizzatto 60 observed that availability of dental care in the workplace facilitates access to employees, reduces the time away from the production line and fosters integration among workplace health and safety professionals, while knowledge of the work routine and production process helps dentists to establish a more accurate diagnosis and health promotion and prevention actions better adjusted to the local conditions. In a study from 2011 with 15,338 workers, Oshikohji et al 61 found that the rates of oral diseases and tooth loss were lower among those who had received systematic oral primary health care in the workplace, including orientation on hygiene and periodical consultations, by comparison to the employees who had received only eventual or no care at all. While some authors reported that oral health prevention programs are associated with reduction of costs 62 , 63 , thorough studies on return (ROI) and value (VOI) on investment are still missing in the literature.…”

“…Actions to improve the quality of life of workers as concerns their oral health may be enhanced by means public health policies focusing on prevention, including continuing education, extending the operating hours of services beyond the working time of workers, implementing measures already established in legislation, such as removal of bureaucratic barriers, and reducing costs to employers to promote general and oral health care. Incentives may be afforded to private organizations to participate in health education programs, provide dental care to employees or even better, to establish facilities on their premises 26 , 61 .…”

Does Instruction of Oral Health Behavior for Workers Improve Work Performance?—Quasi-Randomized Trial

“…Menegaz et al suggested that a follow-up time of less than one year led to a lack of efficacy for educational intervention [23]. In addition, Oshikohji et al reported that workers who had more participation time for oral examination and oral health instruction had better periodontal condition than those with less time [24]. If the duration of this study and/or the frequency of instruction was increased, oral health status might improve.…”