[Status of dental caries in Belgium and neighboring countries]

The present review describes the evolution of dental health in the Belgian population in the last 30 years, comparing it to other European countries. The studies carried out in the individual regions of Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders and in some municipalities, give a general idea about dental health in the country. In the last decade, dental health in Belgian children and adolescents has improved markedly. However, a specific health policy is required for risk groups such as socio-economically underprivileged, disabled and immigrant children. Belgium may be placed among other European countries which show low caries prevalence in schoolchildren population. Further investigation in young adults and adults are required. The lack of representative data for the whole country suggests that the implementation of a data base system for monitoring the evolution of dental health in Belgium would be useful.