The world wide distribution and significance of oral diseases.

Data available to WHO shows that the profile of oral diseases differs dramatically between the technically advanced and the developing countries. In technically advanced countries the high tooth mortality due to caries is decreasing as a result of widespread dental care, though the incidence of the disease is little affected. Unless preventive measures can be applied the cost of maintaining curative services will outstrip the financial resources of even the most prosperous countries. In the developing countries where manpower is scarce the traditionally low prevalence of caries is tending to increase with progressive urbanization. Preventive measures are therefore vitally important and there is urgent need for field testing in these conditions. In both cases the development of preventive measures against periodontal disease is essential if teeth saved from loss by caries are not to be lost in later decades from the ravages of periodontal breakdown.