Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri quoting the study said gum diseases were highly prevalent to the tune of 90-95 per cent in adult population, whereas Malocclusion was affecting 30-40 per cent of the children and oral cancer constitute 35-40 per cent of total body diagnosed cancers.

Speaking at 'Dental Health Mela 2005' organised by Maulana Azad Dental College and Hospital, he stressed on the need to evolve a strategy for early care and specialised treatment at cost effective manner for dental problems.

Inaugurating the five-day Mela, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also expressed concern at growing dental disease among school going children in the city and urged the medical professionals to devise innovative and cost-effective ways of controlling the spread of such ailments.

Despite advancements in the technologies, the incidence of increasing oral diseases was a matter of concern as 90 per cent of India's population was suffering from Periodontal or gum diseases and 80 per cent of the child population from dental caries, she said.

Main purpose of organising the Mela was to bring down the incidence of oral and dental diseases to less than 40 per cent from the existing 80-90 per cent, retaining of teeth by 85 per cent at the age of 18 years, reduction of high prevalence of Periodontal disease to lower prevalence to reduce oral cancers, spread oral health awareness.

Dental College Principal Mahesh Verma said most of the oral and dental diseases could be prevented following simple public health preventive measures as causative factors of these diseases were well-known. Awareness among the children and community at large was the best solution for the country and treatment of dental disease was expensive.

He stressed on the need of bringing down the incidence of oral and dental diseases in the country by preventive measures, which included brushing of teeth twice and visiting a dentist once a year.

The Chief Minister said the state government would try to get university status for the Maulana Azad College and Hospital, which had several hospitals in its campus, saying it would benefit its students who came from all parts of country.