Most adults in Ireland have had contact with the dental services; indeed many have had extensive dental treatment both in childhood and in adulthood. Whilst it is possible to monitor activity within the state-funded dental services (by monitoring payment to dentists by the state for various oral treatments), such activity reporting tells only a small part of the story of oral health in Ireland. Periodic surveys of the oral health of the population are needed to track changes in the oral health of the whole population, not just those who use state-funded services. Survey data are essential to the evaluation of current services and to the planning of appropriate future services. The only previous national survey of adult oral health undertaken in Ireland was directed by the Oral Health Services Research Centre (OHSRC), University College Cork, and was carried out in 1989/’90 . The national survey of adult oral health described in this report was conducted between 2000 and 2002, also under the direction of the OHSRC. A team of 30 trained and calibrated health board dentists and 30 dental nurses conducted the fieldwork. The Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA), on behalf of the Department of Health and Children, commissioned the survey. 

PDF p.68 3.11 Impact of smoking and alcohol on percent edentulous and mean number of teeth present