This thesis outlines the problems which I perceived in the administration of oral health services for the Baffin Region, North West Territories when working there in 1985 and 1986. The recommendations are suggestions for some solutions. Part I provides a background by describing the elements of public dental health and their relevance to the north. A comparison is made in Part III with similar services provided by the Grenfell Regional Health Services in northern Newfoundland and Labrador, not only because of the broad parity between the two regions but also because of my previous equivalent working knowledge of them from 1983 to 1985. Some specific features from other parts of the circumpolar north are used to reinforce the points raised within the recommendations.

Part II and IV are based on personal experiences; they contain opinions which have been substantiated as fully as possible within the time limits of this thesis.

The general conclusions are that there is a) inadequate leadership in dental administration throughout the Canadian North West Territories. b) For much of the north and specifically the Baffin Region, promoting private oral health care may not be the best solution to the problems, particularly when there has been previously inadequate administration of the public service and failure to identify and correct any of its supposed faults.