Dental Health

The mouth is affected by diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease and other conditions such as trauma, mouth cancer and developmental abnormalities, all of which can have an adverse effect on an individual’s well being.

Although considerable improvements have been achieved in the oral health of the population, these improvements are not evenly spread. Unacceptably high levels of dental disease remain concentrated in the poorest sections of our society, which also historically have the poorest access to care. Other challenges include an ageing population and the increased expectations of society to retain a functional dentition for life.

• North West Public Health Observatory has the lead for Dental Health
• The Dental Observatory
• National surveys of child dental health are co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry
• The Information Centre provide statistics on dental services
• Fluoridation of Drinking Water