The present and future of dentistry: alarming data and new technological breakthroughs

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 02. 10. 09:19

The dental condition of our country and other countries is a cause for concern, as it shows a continuous worsening trend based on the statistics of recent years. Technological innovations, with their emergence – especially with regard to artificial intelligence – can give new hope in prevention and treatment. How have the recent data developed, what new trends will determine the coming year, and how will AI change the future of dentistry? A fresh overview of Clinident.

According to the latest global data, dental problems begin in childhood and affect a significant proportion of adults. According to a 2024 study, worldwide cases of caries in permanent teeth in children aged 5-14 increased by 15.25% between 1990 and 2019. Tooth decay and other oral problems have become a common disease, while the rapid development of technology offers new solutions. In 2024, AI will play an increasingly important role in diagnostics and dental treatment planning, revolutionizing the industry.

Dental crisis at both European and global levels

The World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 report paints an extremely worrying picture of the oral health situation in Europe. According to statistics, more than half of the population of our continent struggles with some kind of dental or oral cavity problem, more than 10% of them in a serious form, while in the 60-65 age group this proportion rises to 70-85%, which represents an unprecedented health challenge. Of particular concern is that oral cancer is the eighth most common cancer globally and the twelfth most common cancer among men in the EU.

The dental condition of our region is particularly critical: the rate of cavities exceeds 33 percent, necessitating approximately 335 million medical interventions in Europe each year, according to the WHO. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, which has been used since the 1930s, is a global measure of dental condition and has become the most comprehensive population-level indicator today. The index maps the dental condition of an individual in detail by summing the number of decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces. In an adult, the DMFT can range from 0 to 28. The index not only records the current state, but also shows long-term public health trends. Global statistics are extremely worrying: approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide struggle with some degree of dental problems. In developed countries, the average DMFT value ranges from 12-15, which means that an average adult has 12-15 tooth surfaces affected by some dental procedure or damage.