Karnataka dentists are conducting the first-ever National Oral Health Survey that gets underway this year. This will provide a picture of the entire country's dentistry and dental habits.

While the other states are still preparing for the survey commissioned by the Dental Council of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka with its network of 34-dental colleges in the State is all set to commence the survey operations this week.

Known as the National Oral Health Survey and Fluoride Mapping Project, the initiative is set to be a true picture on oral health practises and including oral cancer across the country.

The fluoride-mapping component of the survey will provide data on the amount of fluoride and the variations in water supplied in fluoride endemic area such as Kolar, Chitradurga and Gadag districts of the State.

According to Dr. S S Hiremath, regional co-ordinator for the National Survey and head of the department of Community Dentistry at the Government Dental College in Bangalore, "Oral health is an ignored area in our country even though it is closely related to general health. There has been no extensive survey on oral health in the country."

"This project will be an eye opener on the prevalence of dental problems in the country. Karnataka, which is the first state in the country to start the survey, will have its report ready by December 2002. We want the people to cooperate," said Dr. Hiremath.

In Karnataka, the survey will cover people in the age group of 5,12,15, 35-45 and 65-plus in 1,240 households across 80 villages and 32 cities beginning with Dharwad and Kodagu districts.

"We will record all possible habits related to oral health and hygiene such as pan chewing, tobacco use, nutritional aspects. We will also assess the effect of traditional oral hygiene methods, use of neem leaves for cleaning teeth- when compared to using toothbrush," informed Dr. Hiremath.

The survey will also seek to answer how often people clean their teeth and mouth, apart from gauge the general awareness on healthcare.

Karnataka's 34 dental colleges will play an important role in the survey. Unlike other states, Karnataka will conduct the survey with the help of dental colleges and will be supervised by the post graduates in community dentistry.

"Because we have the most number of people qualified in Community Dentistry, we are in a position to get the survey underway," Dr. Ramanand Shetty, principal, Government Dental College told Pharmabiz.com.

The survey will provide an insight into the areas where intervention is necessary, so that a majority of the population enjoys good oral health and get the required government grants for betterment of oral healthcare.