“Oral health is a state of the oral and related tissues and structures that contribute positively to physical, mental and social well-being and the enjoyment of life’s possibilities, by allowing the individual to speak, eat and socialize unhindered by pain, discomfort or embarrassment”
What you will find
These resources provide information to help you plan programs that promote oral health and prevent oral disease. For more information, please visit the Best Practices section for interventions related to oral health promotion.
Data
A first step to planning programs that promote oral health and prevent oral disease is to understand the issues of oral health through surveillance.
Canadian Data
- Improving access to oral health care for vulnerable people living In Canada (PDF document), Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2014).
- Canadian Health Measures Survey – Oral health component 2007-2009 (PDF Document), Health Canada (2010).
- Oral health: Edentulous people in Canada 2007-2009, Statistics Canada (2010).
- WHO Oral health database – Canada, Data from 2006 & 1990’s on dental caries in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec. Malmo University, Sweden.
Aboriginal Data
- Dental survey of Aboriginal kindergarten-aged children 2012-2013: A provincial and First Nations school analysis (PDF document), BC Ministry of Health Services (2015).
- Early childhood tooth decay, National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (2013).
- First Nations regional health survey 2008-10 (PDF document), The First Nations Information Governance Centre (2012).
- Inuit oral health survey 2008-09, Health Canada (2011).
Provincial/Territorial Data
Ontario
- Report on access to dental care and oral health inequities in Ontario (PDF document), Public Health Ontario (2012).
Quebec
- Clinical Study on the Oral Health of Québec Elementary School Students in 2012-2013 (PDF document), Institut national de santé publique du Québec (2015).
International Data
Australia
- Child and teenager oral health and dental visiting: results from the National dental telephone interview survey 2010, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2013).
- Oral health and dental care in Australia: Key facts and figures 2011, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Europe
- The Council of European Chief Dental Officers Database, Council of European Chief Dental Officers.
- Facts and figures – The state of oral health in Europe (PDF document), Better Oral Health, European Platform (2012).
New Zealand
- Indicators for the well child/Tamariki Ora quality improvement framework (PDF document)Ministry of Health (2014).
- Oral health (various ages), Ministry of Health (2012).
- Our oral health: Key findings of the 2009 New Zealand Oral Health Survey, Ministry of Health New Zealand (2010).
United Kingdom
- Dental health: Results of 12 year old children survey, 2008/09, Northwest Public Health Observatory (2011).
United States
- National Oral Health Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health.
- Oral Health disparities as determined by selected healthy people 2020: Oral Health Objectives for the United States, 2009-2010 (PDF document), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012).
World Health Organization (WHO)
Government Strategies (Frameworks, Action Plans, etc.)
Canadian Strategies
- Improving access to oral health care for vulnerable people living in Canada, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2015).
- A Canadian Oral Health Framework 2013-18 (PDF document), Federal, Provincial and Territorial Dental Working Group (2012).
Aboriginal Strategies
- Healthy smiles for life: BC’s First Nations and Aboriginal oral health strategy, First Nations Health Authority (2014).
Provincial/Territorial Strategies
Northwest Territories
- Brushing up on oral health Northwest Territories 2014, Government of NWT.
Ontario
Quebec
- Plan d’action de santé dentaire publique 2005-12 (PDF document) (French only). An action plan to support the initiation of preventative activities aimed at maintaining and improving the oral health of children in the general public at the national, regional and local level. Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec.
International Strategies
Australia
- New South Wales (NSW) Aboriginal Oral Health Plan 2014-2020 (PDF document), NSW Ministry of Health (2015).
France
- Le plan de prévention bucco-dentaire (French only). Public health plan for oral health prevention in France. Direction Générale de la Santé (2011).
United States
- Oral health strategic plan for 2011-14 (PDF document), Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011).
World Health Organization
Guidance
Canadian Guidance
- Office of the Chief Dental Officer Health Canada.
- Oral health needs assessment Health Canada.
Provincial/Territorial Guidance
British Colombia
- Core public Health Functions for BC: Evidence Review – Dental Public Health (PDF Document), BC Ministry of Health (2006).
Ontario
Ontario public health standards and protocols: Includes four oral health protocols – Minister of Health and Long term Care (2008):
- Oral health assessment and surveillance protocol (PDF Document).
- Children in need of treatment (CINOT) program protocol (PDF Document).
- Preventive Oral Health Services Protocol (PDF document).
- Protocol for the monitoring of community water fluoride level (PDF document).
Ontario Public Health Guidance Documents – Ministry of Health Promotion:
Quebec
- Educational success, health and well-being: Effective action in schools: Synthesis of recommendations (PDF document). Recommendations include a section on healthy lifestyle habits: sleep, hygiene and oral health. Institut national de santé publique du Québec (2011).
International Guidance
Australia
- Evidence-based oral health promotion resource, Department of Health, Victoria (2011).
Europe
- Proposed 2020 targets to confront key oral health challenges in Europe (PDF document), Better Oral Health, European Platform (2013).
France
- Les moyens de prévention efficaces (French only). Identifies effective strategies to prevent cavities for children before the age of three, the elderly and a report on drinking water fluoridation in France. Direction Générale de la Santé (2009).
New Zealand
- Promoting oral health: A toolkit to assist the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of oral health promotion in New Zealand, Ministry of Health (2008).
United Kingdom
- Oral health: Approaches for local authorities and their partners to improve the oral health of their communities National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2014).
- Delivering better oral health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention – third edition (PDF document), Department of Health and the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (2014).
United States
- Guidelines for State and Territorial Oral Health Programs, Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors (2013).
- Community water fluoridation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Guidelines for state and territorial oral health programs, Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors (2010; updated 2013).
- Healthy people 2010 oral health toolkit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (2010).
World Health Organization (WHO)
Systematic Reviews of the Research
- Fluoride rinse programs for school aged children: A review of the clinical effectiveness and guidelines (PDF document), Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2010).
- Fluoridated water for cavity prevention: A review of the clinical-effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and guidelines (PDF document), Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2009).
- Motivational interviewing in improving oral health: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (2014).
Selected reviews from HealthEvidence.org:
- Motivational interviewing in improving oral health: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (2014).
- Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2013).
- Preventing dental caries in children < 5 years: Systematic review updating USPSTF recommendation (2013).
- Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2010).
- A review of the effectiveness of oral health promotion activities among elderly people (2009).
Search more systematic reviews.