Assessment of Periodontal Status and Treatment Needs among Beedi Factory Workers

INTRODUCTION: Periodontal disease is considered to be one of the most common oral conditions in human population sharing an equal prevalence rate in both developed and developing countries. It is observed that in India, more than 800 million beedis are sold every year; hence, beedi making is a big industry involving approximately 4.4 million workers, and 76% of these workers are women. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the frequency of gingival and periodontal disease and to evaluate the treatment needs in labors working in a beedi factory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1000 daily wage labors working in a beedi factory resided at Patna, Bihar. Subjects aged between 19 and 60 years were randomly selected for the study. The community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) index with CPTIN probe along with the demographic data was recorded in daylight. RESULTS: None of the study subjects was found to fall in category community periodontal index-1 (CPI-1), 67.2% of the study population was found to be in CPI-2, 12.3% were found to be in CPI-3, and 9.7% of the study subjects scored CPI-4. For the treatment needs, majority of the subjects were in TN2 category; however, with advancing age, there was increase in the percentage of population requiring TN3 treatment needs. CONCLUSION: CPITN index along with the demographic data was recorded in daylight. The high prevalence rate of periodontal disease in these beedi factory workers was found, which increased with advancing age. The treatment need index also showed rise in the requirement of complex procedures with advancing age, suggesting the role of dental education and regular checkups in these population groups.