[Oral health in Germany: an oral epidemiological outline]

Abstract

The article describes the current situation with regard to oral health in Germany on the basis of selected surveys. The analysis is confined to the two main oral diseases, i.e., dental caries and periodontitis. At the same, data on the rates of restorative procedures are presented and trends in the development of prevalences are addressed. Whereas in Germany caries (crown caries) is clearly declining as a burden of disease, the situation with respect to the prevalence of periodontitis is unclear; however, the undertreatment of people having periodontitis in Germany must be assumed. Tooth loss among the adult population in Germany has decreased considerably.