Information systems for oral health

The global basis for an information system in oral health was introduced by WHO in 1971. Still very few countries have so far prepared a comprehensive national plan for oral health care of the entire population including an information system for monitoring and evaluation. Therefore it is important to realize that the global goals for oral health in the year 2000 introduced by WHO and FDI include a requirement to establish a national monitoring system for oral health. The WHO has developed a simple "Pathfinder' survey methodology for production of baseline data for a national plan for oral health care. This methodology has now been successfully applied in a number of countries. As a result the WHO Global Oral Data Bank contains a unique set of data on oral health worldwide. It should be understood, however, that within nations more comprehensive and sophisticated information systems are needed to support the activities related to the global goal of Health for All by the Year 2000. This paper gives a short introduction to the development of national information system for oral health utilizing statistics, records and ad hoc studies. The ultimate goal is to build a continuing surveillance system for oral health status and service organization.