[The dental aspects of public health in Hungary. Review article]

Despite great improvements in the oral health status of the population, public health and dental public health continue to be a major problem in society. A number of epidemiologic studies revealed the importance of the social, behavioral and environmental factors contributing to inequalities in the maintenance and restoration of oral health. Dental public health is the science and art of preventing oral diseases, promoting oral health and improving the quality of life through the organized efforts of the public. The aim of the authors was to provide an overview about the development and the functions of the Hungarian public health and dental public health system, its associations with international dental public health organizations and about the present dental public health status of the Hungarian population. According to WHO pathfinder studies, the Hungarian population has a usual cariologic and periodontal status in Europe, but a number of WHO statistical analyses reveal the sad situation regarding the high frequency of oral malignancies in our country. The social support system is given, the tasks are in front of us, and Hungary intends to follow the oral health strategies of the WHO for 2020 in order to improve the dental public health status of the nation, but it is necessary to declare that not only behavioral but also political decisions are necessary for that goal.