[Dental health and the use of dental services among Norwegian recruits in 1988].

The aim of the present study was to describe dental health and dental health behaviour among Norwegian recruits. Data were collected by questionnaires and clinical and radiological examinations among 1067 recruits in 1988. 23.7% of all recruits had no decayed teeth. The average DMFT score was 12.1 (SD = 4.69) and the number of decayed surfaces was 4.1 (SD = 5.97), 46.1% of all recruits had visited the dentist during the last year. The clinical findings (except x-ray scores) were compared with findings from similar studies in 1968 and 1978. The results showed that the dental health improved from 1968 to 1988, while the treatment need was similar in 1978 and 1988. There was little change in the regular dental attendance pattern from 1968 to 1988.