Every professional has to perform according to the state of the art in his speciality. This requires a complete information about its progress. Because of the tremendously increasing number of publications information has to be sorted from exformation (non perceived information). Two possibilities how to stay scientifically updated are literature surveys and audiotapes. However, both are prone to bias. This problem can be minimised when authors of different scientific background are working on the same topic. This article is based on a Medline search project on the aspects of adult orthodontics and periodontal diseases as described in the scientific literature within the past 9 years. Of the screened 97 articles 31 were case reports, 24 longitudinal, 9 cross sectional studies and 20 described a specific treatment technique. Only 1 was an experimental investigation and 19 were review articles. The most important advances which could be detected were a much broader indication for orthodontic treatment in patients with periodontal involvement, guided tissue regeneration, the movement of teeth into spaces with progressed atrophy, free gingival grafts before/during treatment and surgical exposure of impacted teeth with maximum tissue protection. Research within the scope orthodontics/periodontal diseases concentrates on microbiology, i. e. changes in the bacterial flora. This overview is restricted to three languages (English, French, German) and publications registered in the Medline system. All articles which were screened are listed in 3 tables. Schlagwörter: Adult orthodonticcs, periodontal diseases, review, literature, information