Oral health care: more than caries and periodontal disease. A survey of epidemiological studies on oral disease.

A review is presented of the epidemiology of the common oral diseases other than dental caries and periodontal disease. It appears that conditions, such as masticatory dysfunction, traumatic dental and maxillofacial injuries, impactions and oral mucosal disease each normally affect one-quarter to one-half of populations examined. To plan and achieve total oral health care, it is, therefore, necessary to take these conditions into account. As no study to date appears to have registered the total oral health care needs for a given population in either developing or industrialized countries it is suggested that such investigations should be undertaken now by WHO and/or FDI. Only when this total information is at hand can a rational oral health policy be developed.