Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: July | Volume: 13 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 313-320
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230743
Effect of Nitrate on Oral Health Status among General Population Residing in High and Low-Level Nitrate Blocks in Erode District, Tamilnadu, India – A Cross Sectional Study
Gousalya V1, Prabu D2, Raj Mohan M3, Dinesh Dhamodhar3, Bharathwaj VV4, Sindhu R4, Sathiyapriya S4, Elakiya1
1 Post graduate student, SRM Dental College and Hospital, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ramapuram, Chennai, India
2Professor and Head, SRM Dental College and Hospital, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ramapuram, Chennai, India
3Reader, SRM Dental College and Hospital, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ramapuram, Chennai, India
4Senior Lecturer, SRM Dental College and Hospital, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ramapuram, Chennai, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Prabu D
ABSTRACT
Background: Nitrate levels in our water resources have risen in many parts of the world, owing primarily to the use of inorganic fertilizers and animal manure in agricultural areas. When nitrate is consumed under conditions that promote the formation of N-nitroso compounds, the risk of certain cancers and congenital disabilities may increase.
Aim: The study aims to evaluate the nitrate levels in groundwater and their effect on oral health status among the general population of Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of index age groups 5 yrs, 12 yrs, 15 yrs, 35-44 yrs and 65-74 yrs. A total of 540 subjects participated in the study. The Oral Health Assessment form, WHO 2013 was used for assessing dental caries, enamel fluorosis and oral mucosal lesions. Clinical examination was performed using Type III clinixal examination. Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 26. A Chi-square test was employed to analyze the difference between the high and low fluoride nitrate blocks.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the high and low nitrate blocks, with a p-value of 0.062. Statistically significant differences were found between the index age groups for the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (p-value <0.001)
Conclusion: This study's contradictory finding emphasizes the importance of drinking water and Central Ground Water Board Ministry of Water Resources should plan and organize a team for the upgradation of the water quality in India. Such lacunae might be due to the unqualified manpower, meticulous ground work can be done efficiently by Public Health dentist alone but they are not recruited for the Central, State and District level Officials. Hence the Public Health Dentist should be recruited as a District Oral Health Officer for formulating a meticulous plan to solve the community dental problem.
Key words: nitrate, oral mucosal lesions, water resources, n-nitroso compounds, candidiasis, ANUG