The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health information delivered by the Spanish mass media. The study was composed of two parts. In a quantitative study three media were selected: press, radio, and television. The study was carried out between December 1987 and March 1988, and the media with largest numbers and audience were selected. Information variables were: politics/economy-labor/culture-education/interviews-events-reports/sport s/ leisure/publicity/health/oral health/miscellaneous. The mass media studied dedicated a very small percentage of their space/time to health information, with a clear predominance of other themes such as publicity, politics, and sports (17/1). In relation to oral health, results were even more significant because the space/time dedicated to health in relation to oral health was 180/1 (P less than 0.01). Most of the oral health time was given via promotional or politico-professional issues (P less than 0.05). In a qualitative study all available information relating in any way with oral health was selected from a survey of all written news by the non-specialized Spanish press that appeared during 1 yr (Jan 1987-Jan 1988). Reports dedicated to education were only 170 (31.48%) of the total (540) oral health reports. From 170 reports dedicated to oral health, 33 (19.41%) presented some sort of error and 137 (80.59) had an adequate educative content. Caries was the topic more frequently covered, 77.06% of the data, in contrast to periodontal disease, dealt with by only 33.53%. The qualitative level of data using a Score Level Index (SLI) was 42.73% of the highest possible level. Implications for public health dentistry are discussed.