The state of Maharashtra has been initiating several health initiatives to improve the health of its people consistent with the national objective of universal health coverage. Oral health is an important component of overall health and lack of awareness and accessibility are major factors that make people neglect oral health.

The government is seized of this problem and has been associating with dental institutions in the state to create awareness and initiate preventive programmes.

There are quite a few dental colleges in the state and dental professionals have been taking care of oral health at the district hospitals. Additionally, jointly with Maharashtra State Dental Council, the State Health Ministry has been attempting to improve the deployment of dental healthcare service providers on the basis of the system developed by the Indian Dental Association to correct the dentist population ratio for better delivery of services.

The State of Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was formed in the year 1960 on linguistic basis. It was carved out of the erstwhile Mumbai State. Maharashtra is one of the most developed states in India. Mumbai is its capital. A very progressive cosmopolitan city, Mumbai, where varied customs and traditions co-exist peacefully, is the commercial capital and Industrial heartland of the country.

Located in the western and central part of the country it has a long coastline stretching nearly 720 kilometres along the Arabian Sea. The state has a parliamentary system of government with a titular head, the governor. The Chief Minister is the head of the government operating through collective responsibility of the cabinet. There are 35 districts grouped into 6 divisions. Maharashtra state has played a significant role in the country's social and political life.