Needs-based care: Illusion or reality?

Dental care in Germany is in the midst of transitioning. This includes a changed epidemiological baseline situation and with that different treatment needs. Additionally, the supply side (dentists) is undergoing a structural change. To ensure appropriate care under these altered conditions, measures of different strategies can be applied. This article is aimed to clarify (a) what evidence is available today to answer this question, (b) how we are going to assess future demand and (c) what essential parameters of future development need to be taken into consideration in order to adjust dental health care so that optimal health can be achieved on a population level. An approach to answering this question in the current state of needs-based dental care in Germany should be made with three key statements. Thesis 1: Currently, it can be assumed that restorative care on a population level is needs-based. However, periodontal care does not seem to meet the needs. Thesis 2: Due to the demographic change, a high treatment demand can furthermore be expected, despite a declining burden of disease in dentistry. Thesis 3: International educational measures, financial intervention, regulatory strategies and/or personal and professional offers of support are discussed as possible control elements to ensure appropriate care in the future. Keywords: care research, demand, demand planning, dentistry, epidemiology