Studies among Norwegian institutionalized persons have shown an extensive unmet need for dental treatment and a potential demand for preventive dentistry among young and middle-aged institutionalized personnel. The purpose of the present study was to gain information concerning the dental habits of the health personnel working in an institution, since there is reason to believe that the attitudes and dental habits of the employees will be of importance by the introduction of preventive dental health programs. A questionnaire was sent to 454 employees at Lier Sykehus, a mental hospital near Oslo. 385 persons answered the questionnaire (response rate 85). 82% of the respondents visited a dentist regularly, most of them twice a year. Many showed interest in getting treatment at the hospital's dental clinic. It is reasonable to suggest that the dental service at hospitals also should include the health personnel. In that case, the employees should pay the usual fees of the Norwegian Public Dental Health System. In conclusion, good dental care habits of the hospital employees will presumably affect dental health behavior of the handicapped, and thus make our goal--a better dental health for institutionalized persons--easier to achieve.