Oral health surveys are undertaken to provide estimates of the dental healt
h and behaviors of populations or population subgroups. However, the integr
ity of the data from sample surveys may be compromised by one or more sourc
es of sampling and nonsampling error. An important source of nonsampling er
ror is the failure to collect data from some of the individuals comprising
the sample. Consequently, the response to a sample survey, and the directio
n and magnitude of bias induced by nonresponse, need to be taken into accou
nt when using estimates derived from sample surveys. Although the response
rate to a survey is usually used as an indicator of the quality of the data
it provides, nonresponse error is a function of nonresponse and the extent
of differences in the characteristics of responders and nonresponders. Non
response may be managed in two ways. The first is to reduce nonresponse to
a minimum using response-enhancement strategies. The second is the post-sur
vey adjustment of data using weighting or imputation techniques to produce
estimates that correct for nonresponse. This paper discusses issues concern
ing response and nonresponse bias in oral health surveys and provides guide
lines on the management and reporting of nonresponse. It describes response
-enhancement strategies to reduce noncontacts and refusals, sources of data
to facilitate the comparison of responders and nonresponders, methods of a
ssessing the degree of bias induced by nonresponse, techniques for producin
g adjusted survey estimates and the assumptions on which these procedures a
nd processes are based.