A survey of Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) in Japanese Dental Clinics.

This study was to survey the capturing rate in Japanese dental clinics of the Lasioderma serricorne (cigarette beetles) , and to evaluate the beetle's potential as a carrier for transmission of nosocomial pathogens. L. serricorne imagoes were captured in pheromone traps in 14 Japanese dental clinics in August and September 2012 and 2013, and their numbers recorded. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the bacterial antibiotic-resistant genes mecA, vanA, vanB, blaIMP, and blaVIM was performed on the captured L. serricorne imagoes. Bacterial species in the captured specimens were identified by 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing analysis. The L. serricorne imagoes were captured from 10 dental clinics (71.4%) . We failed to detect the presence of nosocomial antibiotic-resistant pathogens in L. serricorne imagoes. The bacterial species detected most commonly in the imagoes was Wolbachia sp., an intracellular proteobacterium infecting certain insect species. Monitoring of insects including L. serricorne should be incorporated into regiment of the infection control.

Dental erosion and sulfuric ion exposure levels in individuals working with sulfuric acid in lead storage battery manufacturing plant measured with mouth-rinse index.

To investigate dental erosion in employees working with sulfuric acid at a lead storage battery manufacturing plant and level of personal exposure to sulfuric ions, we measured sulfuric ion concentrations in the mouth rinse of those employees. We also measured exposure levels from air samples obtained from 2 employees from the same plant who did not work with sulfuric acid using a portable air sampler. At the same time, we collected and compared their mouth rinses with those from other employees. More specifically, we measured and compared sulfuric ion, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, along with pH levels from the mouth rinse of these two groups. Positive correlations were found between sulfuric ion and calcium concentrations (r=0.61, p<0.005), calcium and magnesium concentrations (r=0.61, p<0.005), Ca/Mg and calcium concentrations (r=0.64, p<0.005), and sulfuric ion and magnesium concentrations (r=0.55, p<0.005). Negative correlations were found between sulfuric ion concentrations and pH levels (r=-0.31, p<0.01), and magnesium concentrations and pH levels (r=-0.32, p<0.01). This suggests that mouth rinse from employees working with sulfuric acid could function as an indicator of sulfuric ion concentration in the work environment. Furthermore, this could lead to the development of a more accurate indicator of individual exposure.

Dental erosion in workers exposed to sulfuric acid in lead storage battery manufacturing facility.

Dental erosion, and specifically its symptoms, has long been studied in Japan as an occupational dental disease. However, in recent years, few studies have investigated the development of this disease or labor hygiene management aimed at its prevention. As a result, interest in dental erosion is comparatively low, even among dental professionals. Our investigation at a lead storage battery factory in 1991 found that the work environmental sulfuric acid density was above the tolerable range (1.0mg/m(3)) and that longterm workers had dental erosion. Therefore, workers handling sulfuric acid were given an oral examination and rates of dental erosion by tooth type, rates of erosion by number of working years and rates of erosion by sulfuric acid density in the work environment investigated. Where dental erosion was diagnosed, degree of erosion was identified according to a diagnostic criterion. No development of dental erosion was detected in the maxillary teeth, and erosion was concentrated in the anterior mandibular teeth. Its prevalence was as high as 20%. Rates of dental erosion rose precipitously after 10 working years. The percentages of workers with dental erosion were 42.9% for 10-14 years, 57.1% for 15-19 years and 66.7% for over 20 years with 22.5% for total number of workers. The percentages of workers with dental erosion rose in proportion to work environmental sulfuric acid density: 17.9% at 0.5-1.0, 25.0% at 1.0-4.0 and 50.0% at 4.0-8.0mg/m(3). This suggests that it is necessary to evaluate not only years of exposure to sulfuric acid but also sulfuric acid density in the air in factory workers.

[A nationwide survey for implementation of health Japan 21 dental health promotion programs in local municipalities].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to access the present situation regarding implementation of dental health promotion activities of Health Japan 21 in municipalities. METHODS: Of 1,446 local municipalities that had established local plans for the Health Japan 21 project in 2003, 953 were eligible because these had not been consolidated nor were plan had for consolidation by March 2006. A questionnaire form was mailed to the municipalities in July 2005 with items for assessment of the present status, setting goals for the project, and expectations regarding accomplishment of the local project for Health Japan 21. RESULTS: A total of 788 local municipalities responded by September 2005 (response rate 82.7%). Of them, 638 had already finished development of the local plan. As to the present status, 94% covered dental caries screening for 3 year old children. In contrast, only 25% included screening for adult paradentitis. Two thirds of municipalities set goals for dental health of 3 year old children. However, only had set any goal for the participation rate with regard to periodic dental examinations for school children (6.8%) or the prevalence of advanced paradentitis (16.3%). Proportions of municipalities that expected difficulty in accomplishing the goals were 10.1% for dental caries prevention for 3 year old children, and 30.1% for facilitation of use of dental and periodontal care equipment. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide survey revealed dental health programs in municipalities to be relatively well implemented for dental caries prevention, but with low rates for adoption and implementation of the periodontal disease prevention program of Health Japan 21.