WHO's accent on prevention

It is widely recognized that oral health has its major obstacles in the form of dental caries and periodontal diseases and that in many populations each of these disease areas attacks nearly 100% of the population during the normal life span. Furthermore, there are clear signs of sharp increases in the dental caries problem in populations which previously benefited by a near absence or low prevalence of the disease. For highly developed countries dental caries and periodontal disease are responsible for an ever increasing economic burden which could easily become intolerable for even the richest of economies. In developing countries where dental caries prevalence is increasing the extreme lack of manpower resources is the first barrier, any response to which will encounter the second and associated economic constraint. It is essential for both situations that greater emphasis be given to prevention of oral diseases both by methods already proven, such as fluoridation of water supplies and other uses of fluorides, by oral hygiene programs, and by coordinated research to develop complementary or other methods. The WHO program in oral health has now developed a priority activity to promote and guide such endeavors.