SEAFARING - A RISK FOR SEAMENS ORAL HEALTH

Information about the oral status and dental health behavior and the w orking history of 369 Finnish seamen on different types of ships was g athered by means of a questionnaire. A control group of workers on sho re was formed for sailors 35-44 years of age. Removable dentures were worn by 16% of the seamen. Oral disorders during the week before the s tudy were reported by one-third. During the previous 2 years 14% of th e sailors had had at least one episode of oral troubles, 15% twice and 9% three or even more times. One-third of seamen with oral trouble ha d needed pain-killing tablets or antibiotics. Sick leave days had been needed by 3% of respondents during the previous 2 years because of or al disorder (mean length of sick leave period was 1.4 days). The contr ol group reported gum bleeding more often than the seafarers. Even tho ugh there were no signs of a poorer dental condition in sailors than i n the controls on shore, the possibility that the seafaring could cons titute a risk for the oral health of seamen in other age groups cannot be excluded.