The monitoring process and its importance for achievement of the global goals for oral health by the year 2000.

The establishing of the global goals for oral health in the year 2000 automatically implies an increased need to collect epidemiological data on various oral health problems in the specified age groups of the world's population. Baseline data for 1980 on dental caries in the young age groups and on the prevalence of edentulousness among adults are available only in some countries. Where baseline data are available, continuous surveillance at suitable time intervals is required to monitor changes in oral health. Where baseline data are not available, the main emphasis should be put upon clarification of the present situation. In this review, data on recent changes in oral health in some European industrialized countries are used to evaluate future trends. The predictions seem promising for the young age groups which, without difficulty, should be able to surpass the specified global goal by the year 2000. The proposed 50 per cent reduction in edentulousness at age 35-44 also seems to be realistic. The goal which will be difficult to achieve, at least for both the United Kingdom and Finland, is the 25 per cent reduction in edentulousness in the age group of 65 years and over. This part of the population may prove to be the 'lost generation' with regard to oral health. In developing countries very little information is available on this age group. It is concluded that the need to monitor will in itself initiate world-wide activity in epidemiological research. Monitoring is important not only because it provides data on the current situation but also because it is the only known way to predict the probable extent of future improvements in oral health.