AbstactAn epidemiological survey was carried out in 1992 researching dental caries and treatment needs in an adult population in Oviedo, Spain. A representative sample of 261 subjects, randomly obtained and stratified by age, was examined. Results show a dental decay prevalence of 99.6%; 12.5 DMFT index with 2.9. 7.5 and 2.1 mean values for D, M and F components. Women and the lower social class showed the highest DMFT index. Treatment needs reach a mean value of 12.1 teeth per person. Politics are the most needed treatment, the mean value increases with age while the differences among age groups and social classes are statistically significant. The next most needed dental treatment is filling of one surface which decreases with age, is the same for men and women and higher among the middle social class; the differences arc statistically significant among the social classes.