Remarks on the use of some basic epidemiological concepts in dentistry.

Scientific concepts do not emerge and develop in a vacuum but in the context in which they are used. Many concepts in epidemiology have their roots in destinal general infectious diseases that occur only once in one's life. The use of many epidemiological concepts varies greatly, even within medicine. Diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis cannot easily be described using concepts such as prevalence, incidence or risk, without creating confusion. The concepts sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value can also easily lead to misunderstandings. Clarifications regarding the use of these concepts in dentistry are suggested.