[Natural teeth as oral health indicator]

It is considered viable to plane an improvement in the oral health status of a population. To do this requires the involvement of clinical indicator in the establishment of a system of oral health care. These indicators must be objective, reproducable, sensitive and specific in there epidemiological application. There is an international consensus that for the joung, caries serves as a well definer indicator, while for adults the remaining functional teeth (or the edentulous state). Appropriate strategies achievable within a specified period of time for the maintenance of oral health must be established on a national, regional or territorial basis.