[Epidemiology of dental caries in the Netherlands]

Both in 6- and 12-year-old Dutch children the prevalence of dental caries has declined remarkably between 1970 and 1985. However, in 6-year-olds the decline terminated after that period, while it continued in the 12-year-olds. In 1986 a national dental survey of the caries prevalence of older age categories was executed. As no comparable caries data are available from an earlier period of time, no certain conclusion can be drawn about changes in adult caries prevalence. A comparison of the national data mentioned to data from a country where the caries prevalence in children did not decline (former DDR), suggests that Dutch adults younger than 25 year have a relatively low caries experience at this moment.