A survey of the dental health of the workers on two groups of offshore installations.

Abstract

The study of the medical evacuation records from offshore installation workers indicated that dental pathology may be a significant problem. This investigation was set up to gather more accurate information. The intention was to examine the mouths of as many of the workforce as possible. This covered both day and night shifts and both tours of duty. The examinees numbered 493 out of an offshore population of 967. Half of the examinees attended the dentist regularly. Eight per cent of those examined had been evacuated for dental reasons. Thirty-six per cent were in the authors' high or medium occupational risk groups. There are opportunities for action to be taken to improve the situation.