Abstract
The Bureau of Dental Health, Department of Health, conducts the Thai National Oral Health Survey every five years. This survey, the Ninth National Oral Health Survey, collected data in 2023. The random sample included 25 provinces from 12 health regions (2 provinces from each health region) and Bangkok. Adhering to guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization, the survey sample included preschool children aged 3 and 5 years, school children and adolescents aged 12 and 15 years, adults aged 35-44 years, and elderly aged 60-74 and 80-85 years. The survey presented key findings of all age groups. In conclusion, this report has presented comprehensive information on the oral health status of Thai people. Overall prevalence of caries-free in preschool children has increased compared to the previous survey, while dental plaque and gingivitis remained stable. Dental problems, such as tooth loss, among adults and the elderly were similar to the previous survey. In the young-old group more than half had at least 20 functional teeth and this is likely to increase. During the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, access to dental services for all age groups decreased due to limited availability of dental services at clinics and schools. These key findings, along with comparisons to previous surveys, provided information for the further development of oral health policies and programs for all age groups. Dental health surveillance of risk factors helps identify key challenges for future improvement. Therefore, continuous support for prevention, promotion, treatment and rehabilitation measures in oral health, based on scientific epidemiological data, is necessary in order to improve oral health status and quality of life of Thai people throughout the life course.
