Since the publication seven years ago of the third edition of this classic work, there have been rapid changes in the field of dental public health. A sharp drop in childhood tooth decay in developed countries has resulted from the fluoridation of drinking water. Budget cuts in governmental dental care programs have brought increased emphasis to the need for auxiliaries as responsible members of the dental team.

This new edition presents a complete and up-to-date treatment of the tools of dental public health, including biostatistics, epidemiology, and the social sciences. James Morse Dunning provides a concise discussion of survey and evaluation methods and of techniques for the design of delivery programs for dental care. He evaluates the impact of the increasing demand for adult and geriatric dentistry. In response to the critical need for cost-efficient dental care, Dunning goes beyond most dental organizations of the day to advocate the use of well-trained paradental personnel under the general supervision of dentists.