[Dental health status and use of dental services among seamen in overseas trade].

Dental health status and the use of dental services were studied in a sample comprising 431 Norwegian seamen in oversea trade. The dental health was found to be poor compared with corresponding age groups of the general population. Seamen aged 35-44 years had on average 4,3 decayed (clinical diagnosis), 10,4 missing (due to caries) and 8,0 filled teeth. Their mean PI-value was 2.6. Only 17% of the group aged 30-39 years reported annual visits to the dentist during the last five years. The major barriers to regular use of dental services seemed to be found in the working situation and the insufficiency of the dental health services in meeting the demand of special occupational groups (Sandbekk & Helöe 1976). The findings indicate that proper action should be taken to face the problems described.