The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 Study analyzed the burden of 291 diseases and injuries in 1990, 2005, and 2010. This article reports on the global burden of untreated caries, severe periodontitis, and severe tooth loss in 2010, comparing these with new estimates for 1990. Using disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLDs), oral conditions affected 3.9 billion people, with untreated caries in permanent teeth being the most prevalent (global prevalence of 35%). Oral conditions accounted for 15 million DALYs globally (1.9% of all YLDs; 0.6% of all DALYs), implying an average health loss of 224 years per 100,000 population. DALYs due to oral conditions increased by 20.8% between 1990 and 2010, mainly due to population growth and aging. While DALYs due to severe periodontitis and untreated caries increased, those due to severe tooth loss decreased. DALYs varied by age groups and regions but not by gender. The findings highlight the challenge in responding to the diversity of urgent oral health needs worldwide, particularly in developing communities. Oral conditions ranked among the top 100 detailed causes of DALYs, with severe periodontitis, untreated caries, and severe tooth loss being the top three. The burden of oral conditions was similar among women and men and increased with aging. Untreated caries predominated below age 35, while severe periodontitis became the most predominant cause of DALYs in individuals aged 35-59. Severe tooth loss was the main cause of DALYs in individuals over 60. The study also identified regional variations in DALYs, with the largest increases observed in Eastern and Central Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Challenges in the analysis included incomplete data and varying definitions of oral conditions. The GBD approach may have underestimated the burden of oral conditions, as it included only the most severe forms of the three most common oral conditions. The study underscores the need for targeted oral health care investment and highlights the diversity of urgent oral health needs globally.The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 Study analyzed the burden of 291 diseases and injuries in 1990, 2005, and 2010. This article reports on the global burden of untreated caries, severe periodontitis, and severe tooth loss in 2010, comparing these with new estimates for 1990. Using disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLDs), oral conditions affected 3.9 billion people, with untreated caries in permanent teeth being the most prevalent (global prevalence of 35%). Oral conditions accounted for 15 million DALYs globally (1.9% of all YLDs; 0.6% of all DALYs), implying an average health loss of 224 years per 100,000 population. DALYs due to oral conditions increased by 20.8% between 1990 and 2010, mainly due to population growth and aging. While DALYs due to severe periodontitis and untreated caries increased, those due to severe tooth loss decreased. DALYs varied by age groups and regions but not by gender. The findings highlight the challenge in responding to the diversity of urgent oral health needs worldwide, particularly in developing communities. Oral conditions ranked among the top 100 detailed causes of DALYs, with severe periodontitis, untreated caries, and severe tooth loss being the top three. The burden of oral conditions was similar among women and men and increased with aging. Untreated caries predominated below age 35, while severe periodontitis became the most predominant cause of DALYs in individuals aged 35-59. Severe tooth loss was the main cause of DALYs in individuals over 60. The study also identified regional variations in DALYs, with the largest increases observed in Eastern and Central Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Challenges in the analysis included incomplete data and varying definitions of oral conditions. The GBD approach may have underestimated the burden of oral conditions, as it included only the most severe forms of the three most common oral conditions. The study underscores the need for targeted oral health care investment and highlights the diversity of urgent oral health needs globally.