Towards this objective Oral Health Policy was drafted with the help of Indian Dental association and was accepted in principal as a part of National Health Policy during the Fourth Conference of Central Council of Health & Family Welfare in the year 1995.

The resolutions of the council states that:

ORAL HEALTH - DISCUSSION ON DRAFT ORAL HEALTH POLICY

RESOLUTION

The Council Resolves that:

1. There is an urgent need for an Oral health Policy for the national as integral part of National Oral Health Policy.

2. Special, well coordinated, National Oral Health Care Programme be launched to provide Oral Health Care, both in the rural as well as urban areas due to deteriorating oral health conditions in the country as revealed by various epidemiological studies. Dentists/population ratio in the rural areas is only 1:300,000 whereas 80% of the children and 60% of the adults suffer from dental carries, more than 90% of adult community after the age of 30 years suffer from periodontal diseases which also has it inception in childhood. In addition, 35% of all body cancers are oral cancers. Large segment of the adult population is toothless due to the crippling nature of the dental diseases and about 35% of the children suffer from malaligned teeth and jaws affecting proper functioning. In view of the above facts, it is important to launch preventive, curative and educational oral health care programmes integrated into the existing system utilizing the existing health and educational infrastructure in the rural, urban and deprived areas.

3. A post of full time Dental Advisor at appropriate level in the Dte. G.H.S. should be created as a first step towards strengthening the technical wing of the Dte.GHS in this regard.

4. Studies have revealed that dental diseases have been increasing both in prevalence and severity over the last few decades. There is, therefore, an urgent need to prevent the rising dental diseases in India. The method used for primary prevention of dental diseases aims at achieving primary prevention of periodontal diseases and oral cancers.

5. The Council therefore, resolves that preventive and promotive Oral Health Services be introduced from the village level onwards and accordingly a pilot project on Oral Health Care may be launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare health and Family Welfare during 1995-96 in five districts, one in each in five states.

6. The Council further resolves that legislative measures be adopted to ensure a statutory warning on the wrappers and advertisement of sweets, chocolate and other retentive sugar eatable 'TOO MUCH EATING SWEETS MAY LEAD TO DECAY OF TOOTH'. Similar measures are also called for tobacco and Pan Masala related products.

7. The Council recommends that a National Oral Health Care Programme Training Centre be established or the existing centres be strengthened for training of various categories of Oral Health Care Personnel.

8. The Council also resolves that all district Hospitals and Community Health Centres have dental clinics. All Dental Colleges should have course on Dental Hygienists and Dental Technicians.

9. The Council further resolves that the Pilot Project may be extended to all the States at the rate of one District in every State.

10. The Council resolves that there is an urgent need to have a National Oral Health Care Programme Institute for Dental Research to guide oral health research appropriate to the needs of the country.

(* - Ref, agenda item No. XX, Proceedings and Resolutions, Fourth Conference of Central Council of Health & Family Welfare, October 11-13, 1995, New Delhi)