Caries prevalence and distribution in 20–80‐year‐olds in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1973, 1983, and 1993

In 1973, a cross‐sectional study on oral health status was performed on 1000 individuals in the age groups 3–70 years in Jönköping, Sweden. In 1983 and 1993, new cross‐sectional studies were carried out in the age groups 3–80 years. The aim of the present study was to analyze caries prevalence and distribution in the three investigations 1973, 1983, and 1993 in the age groups 20–80 years. In the younger age groups (20–40 years), a larger proportion of individuals with good oral health was found in 1993 than in 1973 or 1983. A steady increase in the number of teeth in the age groups 40–80 years could be found, which was also reflected in the increasing number of decayed and filled tooth surfaces (DFS) in the same age groups. A marked decrease in proximal DFS in 20–50‐year‐olds in 1993 compared to 1973 and 1983 was found. However, a rather large and unchanging group of individuals suffering from severe caries was also observed. This situation demands an individualized caries treatment strategy based on risk assessment.