Public policy on oral health and old age: a global view.

This paper reviews major trends in the global demography and oral health status of populations, the challenges faced in ensuring successful aging because of these trends, and basic principles to guide public policy responses. Virtually all populations in which the dental caries prevalence reached high levels in the first half of the 20th century have experienced large reductions. A feared increase of the disease in the developing world has been far less than expected. Some countries that did suffer large increases dating from the 1960s already have managed to return to their former low levels because of timely use of preventive measures. Improving oral hygiene and a consequent reduction in the occurrence and severity of periodontal diseases further bolster the mainly positive trend in global oral health. Only in the former socialist economies is oral health status worsening. These positive changes have brought the expectation that an intact and well-functioning dentition should last for life, no matter how extended the lifespan becomes. But these changes take us into "uncharted waters" and the most appropriate strategies for preserving health in old age are unknown because they have never been tried. However, public policies to support community awareness and acceptance of broad-based preventive behaviors to preserve oral health in old age are essential. Policies also must provide guidance on how to proceed when disabling disease occurs, provide for regular research and updating of information, and ensure access to cost-effective and high-quality services for all.

Banco Mundial de Datos sobre Salud Bucodental de la OMS, 1986-1996: panorámica de las encuestas de salud bucodental a los 12 años de edad / WHO Global Data Bank, 1986-1996: an overview of oral health surveys at 12 years of age

En el presente artículo se describe la situación mundial de la salud bucodental de los niños de 12 años de edad - el índice de dientes cariados, perdidos y obturados (CPO) y el porcentaje de la población afectada - a partir de los estudios representativos más recientes sobre 80 países incluidos en el Banco Mundial de Datos sobre Salud Bucodental (BMDSB) de la OMS entre 1986 y 1996. El volumen de información varió mucho: 68 por ciento de las economías de mercado de los países desarrollados tenían por lo menos un conjunto nacional de datos, en comparación con 38 por ciento de las economías de los países en desarrollo y 36 por ciento de las economías en transición. Las proporciones en cada región de la OMS fueron las siguientes: Mediterráneo Oriental, 55 por ciento; Europa, 50 por ciento; Pacífico Occidental, 48 por ciento; Africa, 39 por ciento; Asia Sudoriental, 30 por ciento; y las Américas, 26 por ciento. En el mundo en general, el índice ponderado de dientes CPO en todos los datos del BMDSB es 3,0 por ciento, que es la meta de la OMS/Federación Dental Internacional para el año 2000. Con respecto a los datos reseñados en el presente artículo, se discuten el logro y el incumplimiento de esa meta, al igual que la variación del índice medio de dientes CPO y la proporción de niños afectados en varias agrupaciones de países. Hay dificultades para obtener datos recientes sobre muchos países, pero en el artículo se recalca la necesidad de mantener y ampliar el BMDSB para facilitar la recopilación de datos de salud bucodental válidos, fidedignos y comparables

The global oral health situation of 12-year-old children­decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index and the percentage of population affected­is described in this article using the latest representative studies for 80 countries included in the WHO Global Oral Data Bank (GODB) between 1986 and 1996. The quantity of information varied considerably: 68% of developed market economies had at least one national data set, compared with 38% of developing countries and 36% of economies in transition. By WHO region, the proportions were as follows: Eastern Mediterranean, 55%; European, 50%; Western Pacific, 48%; African, 39%; South-East Asia, 30%; and the Americas, 26%. Globally, the weighted DMFT index for all data in the GODB is <3.0%, the WHO/ Fédération Dentaire Internationale goal for the year 2000. For the data reviewed in this article, achievement and nonachievement of this goal are discussed, as is the variation in DMFT means and proportions of children affected for various country groupings. There are difficulties in obtaining recent data for many countries, but the article emphasizes the need to maintain and develop the GODB to facilitate the compilation of valid, reliable and comparable data on oral health.

Banco Mundial de Datos sobre Salud Bucodental de la OMS, 1986-1996: panorámica de las encuestas de salud bucodental a los 12 años de edad / WHO Global Data Bank, 1986-1996: an overview of oral health surveys at 12 years of age

En el presente artículo se describe la situación mundial de la salud bucodental de los niños de 12 años de edad - el índice de dientes cariados, perdidos y obturados (CPO) y el porcentaje de la población afectada - a partir de los estudios representativos más recientes sobre 80 países incluidos en el Banco Mundial de Datos sobre Salud Bucodental (BMDSB) de la OMS entre 1986 y 1996. El volumen de información varió mucho: 68 por ciento de las economías de mercado de los países desarrollados tenían por lo menos un conjunto nacional de datos, en comparación con 38 por ciento de las economías de los países en desarrollo y 36 por ciento de las economías en transición. Las proporciones en cada región de la OMS fueron las siguientes: Mediterráneo Oriental, 55 por ciento; Europa, 50 por ciento; Pacífico Occidental, 48 por ciento; Africa, 39 por ciento; Asia Sudoriental, 30 por ciento; y las Américas, 26 por ciento. En el mundo en general, el índice ponderado de dientes CPO en todos los datos del BMDSB es 3,0 por ciento, que es la meta de la OMS/Federación Dental Internacional para el año 2000. Con respecto a los datos reseñados en el presente artículo, se discuten el logro y el incumplimiento de esa meta, al igual que la variación del índice medio de dientes CPO y la proporción de niños afectados en varias agrupaciones de países. Hay dificultades para obtener datos recientes sobre muchos países, pero en el artículo se recalca la necesidad de mantener y ampliar el BMDSB para facilitar la recopilación de datos de salud bucodental válidos, fidedignos y comparables

WHO Global Oral Data Bank, 1986-96: an overview of oral health surveys at 12 years of age.

The global oral health situation of 12-year-old children--decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index and the percentage of population affected--is described in this article using the latest representative studies for 80 countries included in the WHO Global Oral Data Bank (GODB) between 1986 and 1996. The quantity of information varied considerably: 68% of developed market economies had at least one national data set, compared with 38% of developing countries and 36% of economies in transition. By WHO region, the proportions were as follows: Eastern Mediterranean, 55%; European, 50%; Western Pacific, 48%; African, 39%; South-East Asia, 30%; and the Americas, 26%. Globally, the weighted DMFT index for all data in the GODB is < 3.0%, the WHO/Fédération Dentaire Internationale goal for the year 2000. For the data reviewed in this article, achievement and nonachievement of this goal are discussed, as is the variation in DMFT means and proportions of children affected for various country groupings. There are difficulties in obtaining recent data for many countries, but the article emphasizes the need to maintain and develop the GODB to facilitate the compilation of valid, reliable and comparable data on oral health.

The community care model of the Intercountry Centre for Oral Health at Chiangmai, Thailand.

The Intercountry Centre for Oral Health opened in Chiangmai, Thailand, in November, 1981. In 1984, as part of its mandate to promote new approaches to the delivery of oral health care, it initiated a demonstration project known as the Community Care Model for Oral Health. Logistic, financial and organisational difficulties prevented the full implementation of the original plan. Nevertheless, consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the Model has provided valuable suggestions for adoption by national and international health agencies interested in adopting a primary health care approach to the delivery of oral health services. Important features which could be appropriate for disadvantaged communities include: integration into the existing health service infrastructure; emphasis on health promotion and prevention; minimal clinical interventions; an in-built monitoring and evaluation system based on epidemiological principles, full community participation in planning and implementation; the establishment of specific targets and goals; the instruction of all health personnel, teachers and senior students in the basic principles of the recognition, prevention and control of oral diseases and conditions; the application of relevant principles of Performance Logic to training; and the provision of a clear career path for all health personnel.

Adding fluoride to sugar--a new avenue to reduce dental caries, or a "dead end"?

A study group was formed in 1989 by the Oral Health Program of WHO, Geneva, to consider the possibility of reducing dental caries by adding fluoride to sugar. Although a few promising clinical reports were available for review, the group found that information was too scarce for field trials to be recommended at this stage. Among the many items to be considered was what concentration of fluoride in sugar could reasonably be regarded as cariostatic. Thus, the committee decided to initiate studies to obtain further background information. Unlike fluoridated salt, the concept of fluoridated sugar does not involve trying to give the individual a certain daily amount of fluoride, since daily consumption varies considerably. Instead, the idea is to elaborate on recent fluoride research showing that low concentrations of fluoride may also be beneficial, particularly for remineralization, if present at the sites where caries occurs. This paper is an introduction to a set of papers describing the background for the project, attempting to define optimal concentrations for a clinical trial, and concluding that, although dental caries prevalence continues to decrease in industrialized countries, the potential for large increases remains in the huge populations in developing countries. All avenues must be searched for a system which optimizes preventive efficiency. However, the possible introduction of fluoridated sugar on the market is not related only to oral health. Safety aspects are of high priority, and several ethical, political, and economic factors must also be considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gathering data on oral mucosal diseases: a new approach.

A new approach to gathering epidemiological data on oral mucosal diseases has been tested with encouraging results in Sri Lanka. Its main advantage is that it does not depend on the examiner's ability to make a diagnosis, so it can be carried out by non-professionals such as dental students.

Standard descriptive tables in WHO Oral Health epidemiological studies.

For many years the Oral Health Programme of the World Health Organization has promoted the development of oral health epidemiological surveys. The objective of this article is to make oral health researchers aware of the variables and statistical tables recommended by WHO for the standardization, presentation and comparability of international surveys. The influence of the growing impact of computer technology in providing better knowledge of oral health systems is also discussed in this article.