Dental care in the People's Republic of China

In comparison to the living conditions that existed before 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) represents a remarkable story of achievement. Western knowledge about the PRC has recently increased by leaps and bounds as detente with the United States has allowed many Americans to witness the "awakening of the dragon." Many of the achievements have been in the development of a health care delivery system that uniquely addresses the needs of the most populous country. There are numerous reports on the advancements made in manpower development and deployment, infectious disease control, family planning and acupuncture anesthesia and therapy. Yet there is little information about dental care in China. Dental disease being an essentially preventable disease has an interesting status in the Chinese health care system which relies on prevention rather than cure. In September and October 1974, the author visited five cities in China, Kwangchou (Canton), Peking, Tientsin, Suchou, and Shanghai and the respective countrysides except for Tientsin. Though any account or description is certain to be but a glimpse of Hsin Hua (the New China), the story is worth being told even if it must be accomplished by small chapters contributed by many individuals. In this light, the author explores the following areas: dental manpower training, which in China has produced stomatologists, dental technicians and dental nurses; the oral health status of school age children, dental care delivery and facilities, and probably the most remarkable while at the same time provocative areas, acupuncture analgesia and therapy.