As at independence in the sixties and seventies, few countries in Afri
ca had dental institutions to train oral health personnel. None can cl
aim to have done national dental surveys. By 1979, most countries were
reported to have no organized dentistry. Literature reports on the pr
evalence of periodontal diseases in Africa indicated that it was among
the highest in the world. Therefore, this paper reviews epidemiologic
al studies that have been done in the last 33 years or so, in an attem
pt to shed some light on the improvement of periodontal health status
if any, that has taken place. It is concluded that there is no evidenc
e to show that periodontal health status has improved during this peri
od of development.