Primary oral health care. The Tanzanian experience.

Four years have elapsed since the introduction of the preventive oral health care approach by the Ministry of Health (1982-1985). A review of the new policy after four years of its implementation indicate that progress has been made in the utilization of non dental personnel in preventive oral health care. Current strategies are sound and some areas have been identified for more intensive activity in the future. The important area is the role of dental personnel in pursuing the concept of primary health care in the regions and districts. This assessment is of importance because total eradication of oral diseases by prevention is so far impossible and would need the whole national budget of Tanzania.