Planning dental manpower in Lebanon: scenarios for the year 2015

The requirements for dentists in Lebanon for the year 2015 were estimated using the World Health Organization/World Dental Federation planning model. The aim was to help decision- and policy-makers in Lebanon to plan strategically for the supply of dental personnel in line with the recommendations of the Oral Health National Plan guidelines from 1995. Assumptions based on previous research in selected populations were taken to support the simulation. The number of dentists required for Lebanon in the year 2015 was estimated to be 2715 while the projected supply will be 6176. Urgent measures are needed to reduce the potential oversupply of dentists in this country

School oral health survey in Kairouan, Tunisia

The aim of the oral health survey was to study oral disease prevalence in 600 schoolchildren [aged 6 years and 12 years] in Kairouan. World Health Organization methodology was used and the results were compared with the 1994 national survey findings. As well as oral examination, fluoride dosage in drinking water was assessed. Analysis showed that the findings were in agreement with the national survey except for dental caries prevalence, therapeutic index and dental fluorosis prevalence. Thus WHO recommendations made after the national survey remain valid in Kairouan