The PAHO Oral Health Program
The Pan American Health Organization, through its Oral Health Program, is responsible for spearheading the development and implementation of oral health policy for the Organization’s 35 Members States.
The mission of PAHO’s Oral Health Program is to strengthen oral health services through communication and collaboration among member countries to provide the information and resources necessary to promote equal and quality oral health care for all people in the Americas, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
The PAHO Oral Health Program equips countries with proven best-practice strategies, knowledge, and technical expertise; and facilitates partnerships that catalyze and sustain positive change. PAHO’s Oral Health Program also provides expertise in design and implementation of clinical trials and cost-effective alternative treatments that increase access to oral health services. Examples include the enhancement of salt and water fluoridation systems in the Region, as well as a three-country pilot program to determine the cost-effectiveness of ART (PRAT in Spanish), a simple treatment for dental caries that can be used by dentists and trained auxiliary personnel to reach isolated and disadvantaged populations.
Oral Health Program Contact Information:
Dr. Saskia Estupinan-Day, Coordinator for Specialized Programs and Health of Vulnerable Populations
Phone: +1.202.974-3854 Fax: +1.202.974.3641 Mail: The Pan American Health Organization Oral Health Program 525, 23st. Street, NW. Washington, DC 20037. USA
Regional Data and Directories
Data:
PAHO Regional Core Health Indicator Update (75.77 kB)
New 2009 DMFT Classification System for Countries in the Americas
2009 Regional Oral Health Indicators - DMFT (249.95 kB)
Table Indicating the DMFT - decayed, missing or filled teeth - average score for children at age 12.
PAHO, 2007. Trends throughout the Region on caries, dental fluorosis, periodontal disease and responses such as the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment, fluoridation and includes DMFT scores by country.
Directories:
PAHO/WHO Documents and Mandates on Oral Health
10-Year Plan on Oral Health:
47th Directing Council. 58th Session of the Regional Committee. Washington, D.C., USA. 25 - 29 September 2006.
CD47/14. Proposed 10-Year Regional Plan on Oral Health.
CD47/14. Propuesta de plan regional decenal sobre salud bucodental
CD47/14. Projet De Plan Décennal Régional Sur La Santé Bucco-Dentaire
CD47/14. Projeto de Plano Regional Decenal De Saúde Bucodental
CD47.R12. Resolution. Proposed 10-Year Regional Plan on Oral Health
CD47.R12 Resolución. Propuesta de plan regional decenal sobre salud bucodental.
CD40/20 Oral Health XL Meeting. Washington D.C, September 1997. (1.04 MB)
PAHO. Regional Oral Health Strategy For the 1990s. January 1996. (2.26 MB)
PAHO in Publications
| Millions Saved: Preventing Dental Caries in Jamaica
Center for Global Development case studies of proven successes in Global health. | |
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Safe Passage: Astronaut Care for Exploration-Missions (Brief)
Atraumatic Restorative Technique to serve astronauts in space. Full book available for download here. |
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8th World Salt Symposium
The Hague, the Netherlands, 2000. Overview of Salt Fluoridation in the Region of the Americas, Part I: Strategies, Cost-Benefit Analysis and Legal Mechanisms utilized in the National Programs of Salt Fluoridation |
Meetings and Reports
Upcoming Meetings:
Key oral health leaders from each country will be invited to participate in the three-day workshop to discuss and recommend strategic intervention for the CFC initiative. The aim is to achieve the broadest possible support and contributions to the CFC by sharing successful practices, profiling and scaling up existing programs, thus contributing to the creation and implementation of new programs under this initiative.
Workshop on caries prevention for communities in the Region of the Americas
The course will offer an adaptation of techniques and curricula developed by the HHS Indian Health Service on oral health promotion/disease prevention methodologies. A key aspect of the training will be the provision of dental sealants and varnishes
Reports from Meetings:
Oral Health in Aging Societies: Integration of Oral Health and General Health. (933.89 kB)
WHO, 2006. Report of a meeting convened at the WHO Centre for Health Development in Kobe, Japan, 1-3 June 2005. Discussions on improving health for the elderly, strategies and areas of action, policy development, programmes and health systems capacity building, and training for service and care.
El objetivo del evento fue conocer las nuevas regulaciones de vigilancia epidemiológica y control de calidad, así como los avances de los programas de fluoruración de la sal, fluorosis dental y los niveles de flúor en la orina.
Intercambio de información de 23 países sobre el plan estratégico de la última década (90s) incluyendo indicadores de población cubierta con flúor (agua, sal, leche, tópico), incluye powerpoint slides. Recomendaciones con las metas del milenio como base.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions about Contributing Information to the Oral Health Program Website
Questions
2. Can I submit materials anoymously?
3. What if have a question or concer regarding a posting?
Answers
1. Q/ How do I submit a posting?
A/ In order to post materials on the DCN website, contact the webmaster at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . All documents are uploaded at the Oral Health Department at PAHO in Washington, DC. Please see the Terms of Use section regarding material accuracy and authenticity requirements. Documents sent to the website will not be retained.
2. Q/ Can I submit materials anonymously?
A/ Materials cannot be submitted anonymously. All submissions must be accompanied by name, phone number and email.
3.Q/ What if I have a question or concern regarding a posting?
For information presented by PAHO/WHO or a member country, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . These documents will typically be in the form of a PDF. For links to outside organizations please direct your questions to that organization.