Dental and oral diseases
Project goals
Oral health is an important part of general health. Dental caries and periodontal disease are a major health problem worldwide and are the most common oral diseases and the main cause of tooth loss throughout life. TMJ disorders are among the most common orofacial pain conditions.
The relationship between oral diseases and general health is complex and reciprocal. On the one hand, systemic diseases have an impact on oral health, either directly, e.g. through pathological pathways, or indirectly through disease- or therapy-related behavioural changes. On the other hand, changes in oral health also affect systemic health, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, respiratory infections and stroke.
The dental examination in the German National Cohort (NAKO) was designed to investigate possible causes and mechanisms for the occurrence and progression of population-relevant oral diseases, to identify risk factors, to derive measures for prevention and to investigate the effects of oral diseases.
First results
- Smoking: As shown in previous studies, smoking is a risk factor for periodontitis.
- Dental health in the population: Based on the NAKO data, the researchers were able to show that a higher prevalence of periodontitis in certain groups of people with a migration background in Germany is associated with lower utilisation of healthcare services. The findings are to be used to improve healthcare services for these people.
Publications
Samietz S, Borof K, Hertrampf K et al. Dental and oral health assessments in the German National Cohort (NAKO). BMC Oral Health 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39875848/
Holtfreter B, Samietz S, Hertrampf K, et al. Design und Qualitätskontrolle der zahnmedizinischen Untersuchung in der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie. Bundesgesundheitsbl. 2020;63(4):426-438. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-020-03107-w
Zimmermann H, Hagenfeld D, Diercke K, et al. Pocket depth and bleeding on probing and their associations with dental, lifestyle, socioeconomic and blood variables: a cross-sectional, multicenter feasibility study of the German National Cohort. BMC Oral Health. 2015;15(1):7. http://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-15-7
Hagenfeld D, Zimmermann H, Korb K, et al. Periodontal Health and Use of Oral Health Services: A Comparison of Germans and Two Migrant Groups. IJERPH. 2019;16(16):3000. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16163000
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Stefan Rupf
PD Dr. Birte Holtfreter (Deputy Spokesperson)