The dentition of 116 patients with a non-syndromic form of oligodontia was characterized. For this purpose use was made of the so-called Tooth Agenesis Code (TAC), with which the various patters of missing teeth can be indicated with a unique number. Oligodontia can present itself in very diverse ways. Only 3 patterns were seen (2 times) among these 116 patients. Considered per quadrant, in the upper jaw, on the one hand, agenesis of both premolars and the lateral incisor was most common and, on the other, the absence of all teeth except the central incisor and the first molar. In the lower jaw, agenesis of the second or of both premolars was most common. Evaluating treatments and formulating standards of restoration in the treatment of patients with severe oligodontia are methodological challenges. Homogeneous, comparable sub-groups of patients of any size are difficult to construct due to the low prevalence of severe oligodontia and the diversity of patterns of agenesis when the whole mouth is taken into consideration.

The perception of the seriousness of a false-negative or false-positive diagnosis could influence treatment decision making for carious lesions. In order to investigate this hypothesis, the perceived risk of a complaint at a disciplinary tribunal was used as an indicator of the seriousness of the consequences of treatment decision errors. Using a computer programme for caries diagnosis on radiographs and by means of a questionnaire, was investigated in a group of fourth-year dental students whether their accuracy of treatment decision making for carious lesions was dependent on the perception of the risk of a complaint at a disciplinary tribunal. The perception of the likelihood of complaints does not seem to play a significant role in the accuracy of decision making. However, the students demonstrated unrealistical high risk perceptions of a complaint at a disciplinary tribunal following a treatment decision making error by a false diagnosis of a carious lesion on a bitewing radiograph.

In an editorial in the British Dental Journal (2007) E.J. Kay raised the question whether dentist-general practitioners have to be educated in dental schools affiliated with (academic) hospitals. Her hypothesis is that some 95% of graduating dentists enter in general practice and that the educational environment therefore should be there as well. In the present reaction it is argued that this is a bad idea because the complete separation of dental education from the academic medical environment would mean a drastic and undesirable limitation and impoverishment of the curriculum. At the same time it is not denied that outreach programmes in a dental school curriculum can be very meaningful.

Premature occlusal contacts may force the mandible into a not optimal functional intercuspal position, a so-called forced bite. When the mandible is forced laterally, it is called a lateral forced bite. A lateral forced bite is more prevalent in children than in adults. In 1983, a dissertation was published, titled ‘Mandibular movement patterns: a methodological and clinical investigation of children with a lateral forced bite’. Open-close-clench cycles had been studied in 12 children with a lateral forced bite and in a control group of 6 children by registering their mandibular movements using an opto-electronic registration technique. Only in the children with a lateral forced bite, did the mandible appear to be displaced laterally into the direction of the forced bite side both during cycle series into intercuspal position and, although to a lesser extent, when occlusal contact was eliminated using flat occlusal splints. Apparently, in children with a lateral forced bite the neuromuscular co-ordination of the temporomandibular joint is disturbed. Subsequent research projects demonstrated similar findings. Consequently, a lateral forced bite in children should be eliminated as early as possible, in order to enable normal growth and development of the stomatognathic system.

Dental Health International Netherlands is a Dutch organization, founded in 1976. The main goal of the organization is improving oral health care in developing countries, focusing on prevention and supporting local oral health care organizations.Dental Health International Netherlands endeavours being a facilitary organization for oral health care providers in low income countries as well as serving as a center of knowledge for dentists and dental hygienists willing to volunteer in deprived communities.