Trends in dental caries in The Netherlands.

Until 1985, epidemiological studies in The Netherlands were focused on school-age children. Up to that year, few caries prevalence data for (young) adults in selected groups were available. In 1986, the first National Dental Survey of the adult population was carried out in The Netherlands. Lack of information made it impossible for trends in dental caries in adults to be studied on a scientific basis. However, with use of cross-sectional studies conducted on selected adult populations between 1970 and 1989, an indication of a trend in dental caries is described. Evident changes in the age-specific average DMFT scores took place in the younger age groups. In the older age groups, the average DMFT score has not changed. Changes in percentages of edentates in the period 1980-1990 probably reflect part of the changes in oral health status of Dutch adults.