Oral health: key data sources

Children

In Scotland, caries prevalence studies were undertaken between 1987 and 2001 by the Scottish Health Boards' Dental Epidemiological Programme (SHBDEP), which was superseded in 2003 by the National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP).

UK surveys of children's dental health have traditionally been undertaken every 10 years by the Office for Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS), now the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Data are available at the level of countries of the UK: Children's dental health in the United Kingdom 2003.

UK annual caries prevalence studies of children are coordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD): Children's caries surveys (select geographical area and age).

International data are co-ordinated by the World Health Organization: Oral Health Country/Area Profile Project (CAPP).

Adults

The decennial Adult Dental Health Surveys (ADHSs) provided the most reliable epidemiological data for Scotland on the oral health of adults up to 1998. The 2009 survey did not include Scotland.

From 2008, there has been an expanded adult dental health module in the Scottish Health Survey which examines the prevalence of natural teeth and dental health problems such as pain, bleeding or difficulties chewing. The survey also explores people's perceptions of whether they currently need any dental treatment. For 2009 survey results, see 2009 Report, Volume 1, Chapter 2 Dental Health.

The population projections used in this ScotPHO Oral health section were from the Government Actuary's Department: 2002-based projections for Scotland, accessed December 2003. The projection models presented have previously been developed as part of the modelling framework developed for NHS Education for Scotland: Workforce planning for dentistry in Scotland. Edinburgh: NHS Scotland, 2004.