The objective of this article is to present the methodology of the first Uruguayan national wide young and adult oral health survey. It was carried out by the School of Dentistry, Universidad de la República, during 2010- 2011 in order to provide epidemiological data.The survey was performed in the context of the implementation of the National Health System. Methodological aspects followed those suggested by WHO for oral health surveys (1997). It was adopted a stratified, double phase cluster sampling design. The capital and the rest of the provinces were considered in two independent samples: one for the provinces (n=922: 418:15-24ys. ; 229: 35-44 ys; 275: 65-74ys) and another for the capital (n=563: 279:15-24ys.;131: 35-44ys.; 153: 65-74ys). The survey included a household questionnaire about participants’ risk factors for oral and general health as well as socioeconomic status and dental exams which assessed dental caries, periodontal disease, malocclusions and mucosal lesions. The mean response rate was 61%. Inter-examiner reliability for all conditions varies from 0.6 to 1(Kappa ).