Dr. Yaniv Meir and his colleagues in the Department of Periodontology conducted a research study examining the medical condition of approximately 80 female patients between 2020 and 2023. The study compared the dental health of women involved in prostitution to those in the general population.
The findings revealed that women involved in prostitution had more complicated oral health issues compared to the general population. They had over three times the frequency of missing teeth, severe tooth decay five times higher than the general population, and about 12% used dentures due to missing teeth. Additionally, 72% of prostitutes consumed alcohol, with many doing so uncontrollably, and about 30% used drugs as a coping mechanism for their work. Those who consumed alcohol and drugs had more tooth decay and lesions indicating poor oral hygiene.
Excessive smoking also had a negative impact on dental health among women engaged in prostitution. Dr. Yaniv Meir emphasized the high risk of developing oral cancer and other oral diseases among this vulnerable population due to factors such as alcohol consumption, drug use, sexually transmitted diseases, and poor oral hygiene. The study underscores the importance of providing support and assistance to this population to improve their dental health and overall well-being.
