Recent oral health surveys have documented the high levels of untreated dental caries amongst people living in the disadvantaged communities of the poorest developing countries. Although dental caries levels in these areas are generally lower than in industrialised countries, very few people in disadvantaged communities receive any treatment for this widespread disease. Oral health surveys among these communities report that between 32 and 90% of 12-year-old children have untreated dental caries, with 24-75% needing extractions. This report highlights the particular need to develop and evaluate materials and techniques to meet the enormous challenge of untreated dental caries in disadvantaged communities. Further information can be obtained at: www.eastman.ucl.ac.uk/depart/toh/toh.htm , or you can write to the authors, Raman Bedi at  R.Bedi@eastman.ucl.ac.uk or Jennifer Sardo Infirri at  jensar@inwind.it Back to Literature