[Improvement in oral health in developing countries]

The comparison of caries prevalence and of strategies applied for health promotion and caries prevention among industrialized countries, shows that systemic fluoride is the most effective method to reduce this disease. The analysis of the improvement in oral health services delivery, done through the study of the New Zealand Oral Health Care System during the period 1921-1982, confirms that this strategy, by itself, cannot produce a significative improvement in the oral health status. The review of the strategies applied to reduce periodontal disease, leads to the conclusion that the control of this disease will only be possible through health education programs with a public health approach. The study of the factors that have contributed to the decrease in oral health status in developing countries, shows that the increase in stimulous towards sugar consumption has had a great influence in the change of eating habits thus, in caries incidence. The oral health beliefs and values of the population, exercise a negative influence in the individuals health seeking behaviours. The conclusion is that it is not possible to revert the oral health status trends in developing countries, unless health promotion and disease prevention policies are implemented at government level.