Objectives: The objective of this study was to provide oral health planners with an evidence-based approach to oral health promotion. Methods: A literature and electronic resource search was undertaken to provide up to date material on the type and strength of evidence for commonly practiced oral health promotion activities. An evidence based analytical systems approach, previously utilised by Bandolier and Enkin, was adopted and applied to common oral health activities. The systematic review drew on published work from three other major projects in this area, studies published after 1996 and incorporated the work of Australian oral and general health promotion. Results: The outcome of the project was the integration of an evidence-based approach to oral health promotion into a Health Promotion Strategy published by the Victorian, Department of Human Services. A number of research issues were identified which were considered relevant to Victoria and which will require further investigation. These include interventions that target people who do not access services, interventions which target people with the highest levels of disease and participatory methods of education based on current public health models. Conclusions: There is a clear need to employ appropriate quantitative and qualitative measures of evaluation of oral health activities to provide a link between science and the community. In addition, conclusions reached from this systematic review must be continually reviewed in the light of further published information that becomes available.

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