Utilization and expenses in dental care An overview based on routine data from Germany

Background Utilization and expenses are among the most important parameters of healthcare systems. Moreover, they allow us to draw conclusions about the features and focus of currently practiced dentistry in Germany. Objectives The aim was to describe the current status of the utilization of dental services and the related expenses in Germany based on routine data from the statutory health insurance system. Materials and Methods The underlying analyses were taken from the annual dental reports of the statutory health insurance company BARMER. They were based on Germany-wide claims data from 2010 to 2018. Results The utilization of dental services in Germany with annual rates around 70% is distinctly above average. In 2018, utilization rates for dental fillings in the age groups between 30 and 79 years were consistently around 30% and for new prosthetic restorations and dental crowns in the age groups between 55 and 84 years it was at least 10%. In the field of prevention, there has been a steady increase of screening exams for children (31.9% in 2010 and 35.2% in 2018). For individual prophylactic measures in 6- to 17-year-olds, no clear trend was discernible (64.0% in 2010 and 65.4% in 2018). The expenses of the statutory health insurance increased moderately. Conclusions With the high utilization rate, good prerequisites for prevention-oriented dentistry exist. Although there is a positive trend towards a slight increase in the utilization of preventive services, dental care is still mostly oriented towards invasive intervention. Further promotion of health literacy of the population and incentives promoting prevention can be seen as useful instruments to implement a substantial paradigm shift.