Occupational Determinants of Oral Treatment Needs among Garment Industry Workers in Bangalore City: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Aim: To assess oral treatment needs of garment industry workers in Bangalore city, emplacing on gender-wise distribution. Methodology: Cross-sectional survey conducted among 1,022 garment industry workers using the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (1997). Clinical examinations carried with Type III examination method as per ADA specifications. Data entered and analysed using SPSS software version 25.0. Descriptive statistics used to summarise oral treatment needs, and associations between gender and categorical outcome variables were assessed using the Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The study revealed a considerable burden of unmet oral treatment needs among the participants. Restorative care was the most common requirement, with 26.4% of workers needing one-surface restorations and 27.4% requiring two-surface restorations, with a higher proportion observed among females. Pulp care was indicated in 20.2% of participants and was significantly more prevalent among females (p = 0.001). Extractions were required by 12% of the study population, again showing female predominance. Prosthetic needs were comparatively low; 0.8% of participants required a single-unit prosthesis in the maxillary arch, exclusively among females. In the mandibular arch, 4.4% required single-unit and 3.6% required multi-unit prostheses, with a statistically significant gender association (p < 0.001). Immediate care needs such as pain, infection, and other conditions were infrequent but were significantly associated with female gender.