The provision of dental services in the Third World

The primary health care approach has been selected as the basic health care planning philosophy in the developing countries and as oral health is an integral part of general health, this approach could be applied for oral health promotion too. Sri Lanka shares most of the oral health problems common to other developing countries. Dental care is delivered free through hospital dental clinics to adults and school clinics to children. Field medical staff, village health volunteers, religious leaders, school-teachers, traditional medical practitioners and senior students in schools are deeply involved in oral health promotional activities. The traditional concept of health care delivery filtering through a number of layers has been replaced by an upward movement initiated by the people. Every effort is being made to strengthen the base of this structure where non-dental personnel are involved, the dental auxiliary personnel providing the services at the first referral level and the scarce professionals being concerned only with high quality oral care at the final referral level. In addition to preventive and educational services a certain amount of treatment has to be provided. These are supplied in static hospital clinics, in mobile clinics or portable equipment is used to set up temporary dental centres in remote areas. Highly sophisticated equipment imported from industrialized countries is used in the hospital service but this service is disrupted due to frequent breakdowns and lack of spares. Local production of dental equipment should be encouraged and research should be conducted to assess the most suitable equipment for third world countries.