THE STATE OF THE NATIONS ORAL HEALTH - MID-DECADE ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHY-PEOPLE-2000

Objectives: This communication reviews the history and process of esta blishing and assessing national health objectives, presents the status of oral health objectives in Healthy People 2000, and summarizes majo r issues related to the outlook for the nation's oral health from the perspectives of participants in a July 1995 briefing session with the US Assistant Secretary for Health. Methods: Data obtained from sources such as the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-Ph ase I, the 1991 Indian Health Service Survey, and 1989-92 National Hea lth Interview Surveys were examined in relation to specific indicators and populations defined at baseline using mid-1980s data. Results: Ex amination of baseline measures and progress data shows that the indica tors for objectives are, for the most part, stable or improving slight ly. Deaths due to oral cancer have decreased. Edentulousness is declin ing. Placement of dental sealants on children's teeth is increasing. A dult dental visits are on the expected course. Little change has been observed in water fluoridation. Apparent declines in dental visits and increases in untreated dental decay for young children are potential concerns. Four objectives have no data for progress evaluation. Conclu sions: The persistent and often dramatic race-ethnicity and socioecono mic differences on many objectives, in combination with possible alter ations in the public health infrastructure, indicate that concentrated and collaborative efforts are needed to achieve Healthy People 2000 t argets.