title: Oral health care availability in health centers of mangalore taluk, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community-oriented oral health programs are seldom found in India. When primary health care systems were in the 1980s, dentistry was not adequately included. This has left oral health far behind other health services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find the availability of dental professionals, infrastructure, equipment, and treatments provided in health centers of Mangalore taluk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical officers and dentists working in all the health centers of Mangalore taluk, using an interview schedule, the oral health care availability inventory (ORAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 23 health centers of Mangalore taluk, dental services were available at six health centers (26%) [two community health centers (CHCs) and four primary health centers (PHCs)]. Mouth mirrors, dental explorers, and extraction instruments were available at six health centers [two CHCs (100%) and four PHCs (19%)]. No health centers provided orthodontic tooth corrections, removal of impacted teeth, oral biopsies, and fabrication of removable dentures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Availability of dental services was limited in the health centers, and a vast majority of the rural population in Mangalore taluk did not have access to dental care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Gururaghavendran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mithun B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pai
keywords: Dental health services; dentists supply and distribution; health centers; rural health services