Oral health status of employees in sugar and sisal estates in Tanzania.

Adults aged 25-54 years residing in a sugar and a sisal estate in Tanzania were examined dentally. The mean DMFT score for sugar cane cutters, clerical employees and sisal plant workers was 3.5, 3.1 and 2.0 respectively. Plaque, calculus and gingival bleeding were observed in 53-98%, 45-79% and 13-30% of the surfaces examined, respectively. It is concluded from this study that, in the age groups of Tanzanians studied, most teeth are lost as a result of caries.