Avaliação clínica e microbiológica bucal de caminhoneiros na cidade de Marabá, Pará

Abstract

Human saliva contains several microorganisms, such as commensal and mutualist bacteria. Different hygiene habits favor the individual to contract microorganisms, which may or may not be pathogenic. The bacterial composition of the mouth is variable and mutable, and there may be an increase or decrease in existing populations due to the manifestation of external agents, which cause infections. General objective: To carry out an oral clinical and microbiological evaluation in truck drivers with route in Marabá, Pará, characterizing the oral habitat through oral clinical examination, saliva microbiology and application of a socioeconomic and epidemiological questionnaire. Specific objectives: Describe the socioeconomic and epidemiological profile, as well as the work context of these professionals who make routes in Marabá; characterize the bacterial diversity in saliva and relate it to the profile of the participants; perform oral clinical examination and calculate the index of filled, lost and decayed permanent teeth (DMFT), making correlations with the profiles described. Methods: Questionnaire application and oral clinical examination; saliva collection, colony macroscopy and bacterial cell microscopy; Gram Stain, Catalase Test, Capsule Stain; data analysis using Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Result obtained: the total sample of interviewed truck drivers was generally male, brown, age (median = 39), high school level, married, born outside Pará, average income of 3000.00, Catholics and Evangelicals, health general and good quality of life, little use of medicines, low consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, medium consumption of vegetables and high consumption of pasta/fried/fatty meat; presented good hygiene and oral health practices. The clinical examinations of the subgroup (n=16) showed good oral conditions of the truck drivers, whose average DMFT index was 12.94. As for the microbiological analysis, we obtained an average salivary pH of 7, an average of 206.06 CFU/mL of saliva; circular, convex, papillate, whole, white, gray and yellow, shiny, membranous and viscous colonies; average size of 3mm, shape of Gram-positive cocci and bacilli, positive catalase (staphylococci) and presence of capsules. Statistical analysis was significant for age x DMFT (P=0.041); education x CPOD (P=.009) and brush change x CFU (P=.026). Conclusions: This was an investigative study where it is concluded that there is a prevalence of positive oral health among the interviewed truck drivers and that advanced age, low education and late toothbrush change were variables associated with increased DMFT and UFC index. It is of fundamental importance that future public policies and actions can work towards preventive measures and the promotion of oral health.