Cross-national comparisons of the findings in the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6)

This study compared the oral health status of the German population with that of the populations of European Union (EU) and selected Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Data from the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6) were compared with those obtained from the Oral Health Country/Area Profile Project (CAPP) database at Malmö University and from a systematic literature search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Priority was given to nationally representative studies.

Regarding dental caries in 12-year-olds, 35- to 44-year-olds, and 65- to 74-year-olds, Germany ranked 2nd of 39, 5th of 21, and 10th of 20 countries, respectively. The proportion of periodontally healthy individuals in Germany was comparatively low. However, Germany showed the lowest prevalence of erosive tooth wear among individuals aged 35 to 44 years. Furthermore, the prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in Germany was 15.3%, which was consistent with the average international prevalence. Among participants aged 12 years, a significant inverse correlation was observed between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita at purchasing power parity and caries experience.

Overall, Germany showed a favorable caries profile compared to EU and OECD countries, but lost the leading position achieved in childhood and adolescence with increasing age. This finding suggests that the preventive gains made in early life were not sustained into adulthood owing to the absence of continuous measures. The relatively high prevalence of root caries in Germany is attributed to an intrinsically higher disease risk and greater tooth retention in adults and seniors. In contrast, the periodontal situation was less favorable, although methodologic differences between studies and the high rate of tooth retention must be considered in this context. Similarly, Germany's leading position regarding erosive tooth wear should be interpreted cautiously because of limited data. MIH prevalence was consistent with the international average, and clarification of its etiology is warranted for targeted prevention. The association between GDP per capita and caries underscores the influence of socioeconomic factors and the importance of long-term population-level preventive strategies. (Quintessence Int 2026;57(Suppl): S142-S151; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b6955513).