[Between public and private. Possibilities and prospects for dentistry in Italy in the 90's]

The Italian dental panorama is largely changing. In addition to the major increase of professionals, there is also an increase of the population sensibility and of the political and administrative authorities with respect to the health of the oral cavity. In the short and medium term it is foreseen a variation of the dental sanitary interventions from the mere therapeutic-rehabilitative approach to a global action which is educative and preventive.