OBJECTIVETo analyze the status and characteristics of dental manpower in the center for disease controls (CDC) in Sichuan Province and to provide more evidence for strengthening the oral healthcare workforce in the CDC system.

METHODSA mass survey on dental manpower was made in CDCs in Sichuan Province through questionnaire investigation. Data were collected and entered with the Epidemiological Dynamic Data Collection (EDDC) platform and analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSSichuan Province had 0.15 hospitals providing oral health services and 0.38 dentists on average per 10,000 people. About 65.53% (135/206) of the CDCs had one department responsible for the oral health service. However, oral health care personnel comprised only 2.23% (237/10,624) of the personnel of the whole CDC system. About 64.67% (119/184) of county CDCs and 47.62% (10/21) of city CDCs knew well the dental health status of local residents. Less than 5% of the CDCs used the data and assisted in the policy making of public health administrators.

CONCLUSIONThe dental care personal deficit exists in the CDC system in Sichuan Province. The distribution and composition of dental manpower are not reasonable. The oral health service ability of CDCs in Sichuan Province should be strengthened and improved.