[Oral health in Europe with changing socioeconomic structures as seen by the epidemiologist].
During the 20th century in Europe remarkable results were obtained in health and social care systems which positively influenced general and oral health. Among others this was favoured by the WHO-initiated multinational movement "Health for all by the year 2000". Political changes in Eastern Europe levelled the way for constructive collaboration also in the field of health promotion. In contrast to this, economic deprivation in all European countries limits the financing of continually increasing costs of dental care. Oral health improved during the last decades, although differences in the health level between socioeconomic classes increased. In Eastern Europe the transformation process towards a new dental care system is quite difficult and is still going on. The establishment of new health-structures depends on socioeconomic resources and has so far attained different levels in various countries. The epidemiological situation also varies greatly. In general, caries prevalence is higher than in Western Europe.
Borutta
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Poliklinik für Präventive Zahnheilkunde, Klinikum der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
D004813:Epidemiology / Q000639:trends; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors