Good oral health is extremely important for general wellbeing of an individual. Oral health is indispensable for the wellbeing and good quality of life. Poor oral health affects growth negatively in all aspects of human development. Dental caries and periodontal disease remain the two most prevalent dental diseases of the Indian population.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Oral health is a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity.

Oral health has been neglected over the years, especially in the underprivileged areas. Amongst many reasons, low level of awareness among the population and the care providers even, has led to continued neglect of dental care. Oral diseases have also been linked to bacterial endocarditis, atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive lung diseases and preterm low birth weight. Periodontal health has direct links with diabetes.

As per recent data from Dental Council of India, there are about 1.5 lakh registered dentists for a population of about 1.3 billion, out of which 72% live in villages which remain deprived from dental care.

Though efforts are being made by the State Governments for ensuring good oral healthcare, National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) aims at strengthening the infrastructure for oral healthcare, under overall umbrella of National Health Mission. Dental units are established even in the Primary Health Centre in some states. However, a lot still remains to be achieved in many of the other states.

Govt. of India has envisaged the National Oral Health Program [NOHP] for an affordable, accessible and equitable oral health care delivery in a well coordinated manner. The primary oblective of the National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) is to render promotive, preventive and curative services for oral diseases particularly in the rural and under-served areas, through the existing public health facilities.