Trends in caries prevalence in Dutch adults between 1983 and 1995

In 1995, a dental survey was performed among adults aged 25-54 in the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch. A similar study was performed in the same city in 1983 and the aim of the present study was to describe trends in oral health from 1983 to 1995. National data show that the percentage of edentulous persons aged 30-39 and 40-49 decreased from 11.3 to 3.3 and from 28.5 to 13.8, respectively, between 1984 and 1993/94. The same trend was found in 's-Hertogenbosch. In persons with natural dentition under the age of 35 the mean number of DMFT decreased significantly between 1983 and 1995. In 1995 the mean number of FT was higher, and the mean numbers of DT and MT were lower than in 1983 in all age categories. It can be concluded that oral health in Dutch adults, as measured by caries prevalence, treatment level of caries and percentage of edentulous persons, improved significantly between 1983 and 1995.