China has historically emphasized public health services but privatized in the 1990s. It is now shifting back towards public services due to lack of transparency and public confidence in the private system. Oral health care has been part of the public system since 1949, though dental clinics are rare in villages. Private clinics only emerged in 2003 and make up a small part of the sector. The number of dentists is unknown due to joint registration with doctors. Policy focuses on preventative care and treatment based on global health policies. A goal has been the 1998 National Committee of Oral Health.