Periodontal diseases of seafarers, their prevention and treatment during long voyages: prospective study

INTRODUCTION: For seafarers are characteristic a number of ecopathic factors that might provoke the emergence and progression of periodontal disease. Pre-voyage oral rehabilitation is an important component, aimed at timely detection, treatment and recurrence prevention of periodontal disease on long voyage.

OBJECTIVES: The study focused on detecting periodontal disease among seafarers, determining the cause, contributing to its emergence and progression, assessment of preventive health care measures and treatment effectiveness on long voyage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: There was the study of periodontal tissues, occurrence and intensity of the periodontal pathology course, also oral hygiene and conditions of items for individual dental care among 169 men, aged 22–52 on long voyage. The first group included 57 seamen, who were part of the crew. The second group included 112 people, who were studying and a long voyage was the first one for them. While detecting periodontal pathology, treatment was carried out, and after its completion there were relapse-prevention measures, that were consistent given the people on the ship on long voyage. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the International Academy of Ecological Science, Human and Nature Security (protocol № 3 of 10.05.2022). Statistics. Parametric Student’s criterion under normal distribution law and Mann-Whitney non-parametric criterion as distinct from normal indicator distribution were used for the evaluation of reliability of differences compared averages.

RESULTS: Found that pre-voyage rehabilitation of the oral cavity among seafarers is not always properly carried out as there were 26,3–31,3% cases of periodontal disease, identified on long voyage. Despite adequate individual oral hygiene in 24,6–27,7% seafarers, there were inappropriate oral care items that provoked inadequate individual oral hygiene.

DISCUSSION: The most frequent kinds of periodontal disease were catarrhal gingivitis and localized periodontitis of mild severity. Issues of periodontal disease treatment in seafarers on long voyage are being discussed.

CONCLUSION: To improve dental health in seafarers, it is necessary to treat periodontal diseases before voyage. On long voyage seamen should use only the items, habitable for individual oral hygiene, and make their timely replacement. In all cases of periodontal disease treatment it was possible to achieve directly good therapeutic results and to avoid the relapse of inflammatory periodontal pathology, typical for seafarers, during 9-month voyage.