Abstract
Although there is a considerable amount of data available on dental caries in New Zealand children, little information exists on gingival conditions. The only Source of data on normal children is from the lnternational Collaborative Study of Dental Manpower Systems which included children aged 8-9 years in the 1973 study in Canterbury). Other data are available on mentally retarded children.This report describes the findings on oral hygiene, gingival health, and periodontal treatment needs in 12-year-old Dunedin children. Two periodontal indices were used in the survey - the Community Periodontal lndex of Treatment Needs (CPlTN)4, and the Gingival lndex which allows a more detailed assessment of gingival health and the intra-oral distribution of gingival inflammation.