Annual full mouth debridement reduces the need for dental treatment in personnel working in hazardous conditions

BACKGROUND: Relevant data on the need for dental treatment, including differentiated parameters of treatment needs in various groups of patients enrolled in care, are essential for the justification of compulsory health insurance financing and adequate staffing of the dental service.

AIM: To compare the need for dental treatment in personnel of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant working in hazardous conditions, depending on the presence or absence of previous full mouth debridement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical and X-ray examination of the teeth and periodontal tissue was performed in two groups of personnel of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant working in hazardous conditions. One year prior to the examination, subjects in the first group voluntarily declined the proposed full mouth debridement, while subjects in the second group received therapeutic and surgical debridement according to the compulsory health insurance plan.

RESULTS: The need for treatment of dental caries and its complications decreased by 27.8% following full mouth debridement. In particular, the need for single and double dental filling decreased by 46.0% and 53.5%, respectively; the need for primary and revision root canal therapy decreased by 48.0% and 43.3%, respectively; and the need for tooth extraction decreased by 81.1%. The need for flap surgery and periodontal pocket curettage decreased by 32.8% and 38.8%, respectively, while the requirement for calculus removal and local drug therapy increased by 7.1%.

CONCLUSION: Personnel of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant working in hazardous conditions showed a high need for treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases. There was a significant decrease in the need for dental filling, root canal therapy, and tooth extraction in subjects with previous full mouth debridement, with a shift toward less invasive periodontal disease treatment options. Specific data on dental treatment needs in personnel working in hazardous conditions can be used for financial planning and staffing of the dental service.