Oral health

Caries continues to be the most widespread lifestyle disease, even though medically effective, low-cost preventive measures are available. Therefore the World Health Organization has defined goals for the oral health of the population. In order to monitor these goals, the methodology of Oral Health Surveys was developed (survey of dental status).

In order to undertake oral health surveys in Austria, the Oral Health Coordination Point was established at ÖBIG in 1996/97. It monitors whether the WHO goals with regard to oral health of the general population are met in Austria. For this purpose, every year nationwide oral health surveys according to the WHO methodology are undertaken in each age group for which WHO goals have been defined.

Oral health surveys are a means of evaluating the results of prevention efforts. For the short-term evaluation of caries prophylaxis activities, other indicators or methods are used.

Since 2006 oral health surveys have been carried out in the age groups of six-year-olds and twelve-year-olds, in cooperation with the Federation of Austrian Social Security Institutions and the Provinces.