Introduction: The main aim of the research is of analyzing the thickness of the jaw bone on orthopantomography radiographies at patients exposed to occupational risk factors such as cyanides. Therefore, the statistical interpretation of the changes occurring at jaw bone level in a group of workers from a galvanizing section of metal plating is important.Materials and methods: A two-year comparative radiological and statistical study between two research groups of 102 subjects each – one group, exposed to occupational hazards – and radiological analysis of the thickness of jaw bones in the six-year molar teeth position, along the median line, both in the maxilla and the mandible, were performed.Results and discussion: The novelty consists in identifying the specific effects of an external vicious environment on bone thickness, and in the statistical interpretation of results. A good and positive correlation measured the maxilla bone thinness and the right side mandible bone thickness using panoramic radiography, as well as between the left side maxilla bone thickness and left side mandible bone thickness. It was also observed that bone atrophy increases with the seniority in work, meaning that a person with 30-40 years of work has a greater atrophy and a less bone thickness than a younger worker. Conclusions: Bone atrophy detected in the upper jaw bone as well as in the mandible within the investigation group is significantly higher than that detected on the right side, on the median line, and also on the left one, within the witness group.
Keywords:- atrophy
- cyanides
- jaw bone
- occupational hazards
- radiologic investigation