Abstract
The practice of adult and elderly oral health services in each municipality in Japan was surveyed in November to December 1994, as part of an investigation to formulate more efficient systems for offering services aimed at promoting better community oral health services. The data were analyzed in relation to the type of municipality (large cities/special districts with health centers, other cities, and towns/villages), size of population, and presence/absence of dental hygienists. There were distinct variations in the percentage of oral health services offered for adults and the elderly according to the type of the municipality. Adult and elderly oral health services were most frequently provided in large cities/special districts, followed by other cities and towns/villages. Regarding oral health examination and oral health education for adults and the elderly most municipalities provided no service at all, followed by services for the elderly only, for both adults and the elderly, and for adults only. Dental hygienists tended to be stationed more frequently in municipalities with larger populations, and oral health services tended to be more frequently provided in municipalities which had dental hygienists.
