International dental public health.

Dental public health workers around the world are considering the service implications of changing patterns of dental health. In industrialized countries, with few exceptions, caries levels are declining among adolescents and young adults, but there are signs that this may not now be the case in the very young. The situation in developing countries is equivocal. In an effort to target resources more efficiently, efforts to detect those at high risk to caries continue. However, there still seems no better predictor than the caries experience of the individual or group. With reducing levels of dental caries, greater interest is being shown in the epidemiology of periodontal disease. Despite the acceptance by Federation Dentaire Internationale of the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs as a suitable measure of community periodontal health, some workers still have reservations of its value. With increasing numbers of elderly people retaining greater numbers of teeth, investigations into patterns of adult caries, particularly root caries, are increasing. Collaboration among health workers on an international basis would enhance knowledge in these disciplines.