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Lecture by the President of the Landeszahnärztekammer (Regional Chamber of Dental Surgeons) Baden Wuerttemberg and Chairman of the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Zahngesundheit (Regional Task Force for Dental Health) on the occasion of the 50th scientific convention "Healthy into the Future" of the Federal Association of Doctors and Dentists in the Public Health Sector. This lecture by Dr. Rüdiger Engel highlights the planned goals of the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Zahngesundheit (Regional Task Force for Dental Health) as well as those of the 37 associated Regional Task Forces for Dental Health up to year 2003.

Concurrent with an epidemiological study, 761 military recruits were questioned about their attitudes towards dentists, dental treatment and oral hygiene habits. In addition, their knowledge of periodontal diseases and their prevention was evaluated, as were their smoking and snacking habits. Such recruits had been similarly questioned 11 years previously. Both the present and the previous studies showed that the recruits had a very positive attitude towards their dentitions, expressing a defined desire for good oral health. Oral hygiene habits, particularly daily toothbrushing, improved during the decade and were graded as acceptable. However, the recruits generally had a poor impression of dentists and their individual treatments. The number of recruits presenting for the emergency treatment of pain increased by 20%. Of this group, recruits who only sought dental checkups sporadically increased four times compared to the previous study. Confirming results of the previous study, knowledge of periodontal diseases and its prevention were poor. This may indicate a lack of clearly explained information by the dental teams which previously and presently treated these recruits. The development of a consumer society was expressed by the increased snacking habits. In contrast to what was expected, the information about dental diseases and the motivation of recruits by dental personnel and in the schools to better dental health should be improved.

Experience at the Heidelberg Health Authority has shown that youth dental care without the intervention of a dental officer does not possess the necessary efficiency. The percentage of pupils not in the permanent care of a dental practitioner is increasing yearly. Hence, early preventive care is hampered. During the course of follow-up investigations by a professional dentist motivation is possible which cannot be achieved by collective motivation within the school class. In order to cope with "problem children", who generally belong to the lower social groups, it is desirable to place these under the supervision of dentists of the regional authorities. Thus this social class will also receive the necessary dental care and education.