Background Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare genetic disorder of bone and mineral metabolism. In addition to skeletal abnormalities, pronounced dentoalveolar symptoms frequently occur but remain underrecognized in dental practice. This review aims to summarize the oral manifestations of HPP and emphasize their diagnostic relevance. Methods A scoping review of 30 studies on oral findings in HPP was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Clinical and experimental papers addressing defects in cementum, dentin, and alveolar bone were qualitatively analyzed. Results Premature tooth loss - especially in the primary dentition without physiological root resorption - is the most common finding. Histological and radiological studies reveal hypomineralized cementum, dentin, and alveolar bone leading to structural periodontal instability. Inflammatory components are usually absent. Low ALP and elevated PLP levels correlate with the severity of oral symptoms. Conclusion Oral involvement in HPP provides key diagnostic clues, particularly in milder cases. Dentists play a crucial role in early detection. Close interdisciplinary collaboration between dentistry and osteology is essential to enable timely diagnosis and management.

Elongation of the styloid process (SP) is frequently discussed in the context of Eagle syndrome (ES), with a length threshold of ≥ 30 mm commonly cited as indicative of elongation. However, this criterion is largely derived from heterogeneous imaging modalities and may not adequately account for demographic variability or the projection-related limitations of panoramic radiography. Given that panoramic radiographs (PRs) represent the most common first-line imaging modality in dental and maxillofacial practice, interpretation of SP morphology in this setting warrants critical evaluation. The aim of this study was to characterize demographic variation in SP morphology on standardised PRs and to explore whether commonly cited length thresholds should be interpreted with caution in this imaging modality. A retrospective analysis of 350 standardised PRs was performed. Bilateral measurements included SP length, width, angulation, distance to anatomical reference points, segmentation according to the Langlais classification, and calcification patterns. Data were stratified by sex and age (≥ 40 vs. <40 years). Statistical comparisons were conducted using Student’s t-test and chi-square test (α = 0.05). A post hoc power analysis confirmed adequate statistical power for primary outcome comparisons. Significant morphological variability was observed across demographic groups. Mean SP lengths exceeded the frequently cited 30 mm threshold in all subgroups. Older individuals demonstrated greater elongation, width, angulation, and advanced calcification patterns compared to younger individuals (p < 0.05). Males exhibited significantly greater linear dimensions than females (p < 0.05). Bilateral elongation was common within the cohort. SP morphology showed substantial demographic variation on standardised PRs. In this non-symptom-selected cohort, measurements frequently exceeded the commonly cited 30 mm threshold, suggesting that length-based cut-offs should be interpreted cautiously on panoramic imaging. Clinical correlation remains essential, and advanced imaging may be considered in selected cases.

Enamel - the hardest material in the human body - protects against wear during mastication and resists chemical degradation. In the condition termed molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH), impaired enamel quality leads to rapid tooth decay, hypersensitivity, and frequent need for early tooth extraction. MIH is highly prevalent in children, affecting approximate to 14.2% of the global population, yet the mechanisms underlying the accelerated decay and structural breakdown of the enamel crown remain unclear. In this study, comprehensive multiscale material characterization is applied to focal MIH-affected regions and adjacent non-MIH enamel. MIH lesions display reduced mineral content, increased organic content, and micron-scale widening of prism sheaths accompanied by elevated carbon levels. Interrod regions exhibit altered mineral organization compared with enamel rods, resulting in distinct local material properties. These spatially heterogeneous changes appear to facilitate acid penetration and diminish several extrinsic toughening mechanisms that normally enhance enamel resilience. The findings highlight that MIH involves coordinated compositional and microstructural alterations across multiple length scales, underscoring the need for scale-dependent assessment to guide the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

BACKGROUND:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered nasal fracture epidemiology, with fewer outdoor injuries and more domestic accidents. This study compared intra-pandemic and post-pandemic nasal fracture patterns and their prevention implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This retrospective study included patients treated for nasal fractures during February 2020-January 2021 (intra-pandemic) and February 2023-January 2024 (post-pandemic). The post-pandemic cohort was identified using the same eligibility criteria, variable definitions, coding framework, and electronic-record retrieval procedure as the previously published intra-pandemic cohort. The predefined objective was a direct comparison of these two matched periods; no pre-pandemic control group was included. RESULTS:A total of 290 patients were analyzed (184 post-pandemic and 106 intra-pandemic). In exploratory unadjusted comparisons, sports accidents occurred in 29/184 (15.8%) post-pandemic versus 7/106 (6.6%) intra-pandemic cases (p = 0.023), road traffic incidents in 31/184 (16.8%) versus 7/106 (6.6%) (p = 0.041), interpersonal violence in 60/184 (32.6%) versus 20/106 (18.9%) (p = 0.009), and alcohol-related events in 37/184 (20.1%) versus 7/106 (6.6%) (p = 0.009). Falls, virus- or flu-associated syncope, and accidents at home were more frequent intra-pandemic. Because multiple comparisons were performed, findings with p-values near 0.05 should be regarded as nominal and hypothesis-generating. The unadjusted mean hospital stay was shorter post-pandemic; however, the study period was not independently associated with length of stay after adjustment. The post-pandemic period showed a borderline, non-significant association with violence-related fractures (odds ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 0.99-3.12; p = 0.051). CONCLUSION:The observed changes are compatible with a return of social, recreational, and traffic-related trauma patterns, although the absence of a pre-pandemic control group and the exploratory nature of subgroup analyses limit causal interpretation. Differences in hospital stay appear to be more closely related to patient-level characteristics than to the study period itself.

BACKGROUND:Periodontitis has gained attention as a key factor associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's dementia. However, the relationship between periodontitis-related oral microbiota shifts and brain health in the general population remains unclear. METHODS:We investigated the oral microbiome-brain axis in 1026 participants from the population-based PAROMIND Study. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of subgingival crevicular fluid, we inferred via topological data analysis a microbiota similarity network. This network, which distills the complex high-dimensional data into an interpretable map of microbial similarity, revealed a continuous disease gradient mirroring the microbial pathogenicity spectrum, from taxa of low periodontal pathogenicity (e.g., Streptococcus) to periodontitis-associated taxa (e.g., Porphyromonas, Fusobacterium). Leveraging this network, we systematically examined associations between periodontal microbiota profiles and 40 brain health-related phenotypes, including cognition, brain structure, mental health, inflammatory biomarkers, diet, vascular risk factors, and demographics. FINDINGS:Higher abundance of periodontitis-related bacterial taxa was associated with poorer cognitive performance, elevated leucocyte counts, and lower MIND diet adherence after covariate adjustment. Complementary forward model selection analysis supported the links to cognitive performance and inflammation, and additionally identified a significant association with brain structure (cortical thickness and subcortical volume). We identified associations with both established genera (Porphyromonas) and taxa not previously implicated in brain health (Fretibacterium, Tannerella, Dialister). INTERPRETATION:These findings from a large cohort advance the understanding of the oral microbiome-brain axis, highlighting specific microbial profiles linked to subclinical cognitive, structural, and inflammatory brain health markers. By demonstrating these links in a non-demented population, our study suggests that monitoring the oral microbiome could inform early risk assessment for cognitive decline, positioning periodontal health as an accessible target for early intervention strategies. FUNDING:Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Abstract Periodontitis has been linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) through systemic inflammation. However, evidence in early CKD remains limited. We analyzed 6 179 participants from a population-based cohort (median age 62 years; 51% women). Periodontitis was classified according to the 2017 American Academy of Periodontology / European Federation of Periodontology criteria. Kidney function was assessed by the combined creatinine- and cystatin C–based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Associations of periodontitis stages and mean clinical attachment loss (CAL) with eGFR and uACR were examined using multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, and smoking. Mediation analyses tested indirect effects of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Prevalence of severe periodontitis increased from 14% in individuals with normal kidney function (eGFR ≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m²) to 36% in those with moderately reduced eGFR (<60 mL/min per 1.73 m²) and from 21% in individuals without albuminuria (<10 mg/g) to 32% in those with moderately increased albuminuria (29–300 mg/g). After adjustment, Stage IV periodontitis was independently associated with lower eGFR (β−1.08 mL/min per 1.73 m²; 95% CI−2.04 to −0.12) and higher Blom-transformed uACR (β 0.09; 95% CI 0.01–0.16) compared with Stage I/II. hsCRP partially mediated these associations, accounting for 35% of the association with eGFR and 10% with uACR. These findings suggest that both inflammatory and non-inflammatory pathways may link periodontitis to early CKD. Periodontitis was associated with reduced eGFR and higher uACR in early CKD. While overlapping risk factors contribute, an independent association remained, only partly explained by systemic inflammation.

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25 (kg/m²)) on the oral health status in patients with adult hypophosphatasia (HPP). Materials and methods Throughout a retrospective assessment both oral health status and bone metabolism including dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for bone mineral density (BMD) measures were analyzed. The oral health status was assessed by the decayed/missing/filled teeth index (DMFT), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), and the periodontal screening index (PSI). The study population was divided into two groups based on the overweight classification by BMI (Overweight = BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²; n = 17) vs. non-overweight ( BMI < 25 kg/m²; n = 31). Results 48 HPP patients were included in this study. Overweight HPP patients showed a significantly reduced oral health status regarding filled teeth, DMFT, PSI, PPD and periodontitis severity index compared to non-overweight HPP patients. Furthermore, overweight HPP patients revealed significantly higher DXA findings regarding BMD, T- and Z-scores. Conclusion In the present study overweight (BMI ≥ 25 (kg/m²)) is associated with a poorer oral health status and higher BMD in adult HPP. Clinical relevance Since overweight is associated with a poorer oral health status in the general population and promotes the development of periodontal disease, the findings of the present study indicate that overweight also affects oral health in adult HPP.

Background/Objectives: The formation of oral biofilms in periodontal pockets and around dental implants with induction of periodontitis or peri-implantitis is an increasing problem in dental health. The intelligent design of a biofilm makes the bacteria embedded in the biofilm matrix highly tolerant to antiseptic therapy, often resulting in tooth or implant loss. The question therefore arises as to which mouthwashes have eradication potential against oral biofilm. Methods: A human oral biofilm model was developed based on donated blood plasma combined with buffy coats, inoculated with oral pathogenic bacterial species found in periodontal disease (Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mitis, and Porphyromonas gingivalis). Over a span of 7 days, we tested different mouth rinsing and antiseptic solutions (Chlorhexidine, Listerine®, NaOCl, Octenisept®, and Octenident®) covering the matured biofilm with 24 h renewal. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was used as a control. Bacterial growth patterns were detected via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) after 2, 4, and 7 days of treatment. Results: While all groups showed initial bacterial reduction, the control group demonstrated strong regrowth from day 2 to 4. Listerine showed a near-significant trend toward bacterial suppression. Additionally, strain-specific efficacy was observed, with Octenisept® being most effective against Streptococcus mitis, Octenident® and NaOCl showing superior suppression of Actinomyces naeslundii, and Listerine® outperforming other solutions in reducing Fusobacterium nucleatum. Donor-specific, individual variability further influenced treatment outcomes, with distinct trends in bacterial suppression and regrowth observed across donors. Conclusions: These findings underscore the complexity of biofilm-associated infections and highlight the importance of targeted therapeutic approaches for managing bacterial biofilms. In this experiment, the donor-specific outcomes of the antimicrobial effects of the solutions may indicate that genetic predisposition/tolerance to oral infections appears to play a critical role in the control of oral biofilms.

Background: People with migration background in Germany demonstrate poorer oral health and different oral health behaviors compared to people without migration background. One crucial factor for achieving and maintaining good oral health is a person's oral health literacy. This article presents results on oral health and oral health literacy from the baseline data of the cluster-randomized controlled MuMi study (Promotion of oral health literacy and oral health of persons with migration background). Methods: Comparative cross-sectional data on oral health and oral health literacy of patients with and without migration background were examined in 40 dental practices in Hamburg, Germany. Oral examination included a full dental status, the degree of caries restoration, and the approximal plaque index (API). To assess oral health literacy, the Oral Health Literacy Profile (OHLP) was used. Associations between migration status and oral health or oral health literacy were analyzed with linear mixed regression, adjusted for age, sex, education level. The relationship between oral health literacy and oral health was calculated using logistic regression. Results: Participants with and without migration background differed significantly in oral health literacy and clinical parameters of oral health. The former showed significantly lower oral health literacy (lower OHLP-Scores) and poorer oral health (higher API values as well as a more problem-oriented dental service use). Furthermore, the degree of caries restoration is significantly lower among participants with migration background than those without. Lastly, the logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between better oral health literacy and lower API values. Discussion: Migration background appears to be a risk factor in its own right, as the differences in oral health literacy and oral health status remain even after statistically controlling for several confounders. In order to better reflect the diversity within the population with migration background, information on potential access barriers and migration-related factors must be included in further analyses. Conclusion: Oral health literacy has been found to be a strong predictor for an individual's oral health outcome. Improving the oral health literacy of patients may help in the efforts to improve oral health behaviors and the overall treatment outcomes. Thus, future research should focus on tailored preventive measures for improving oral health literacy, thereby helping to strengthen equal opportunities in oral health in Germany.

Peri-implantitis is known as an inflammatory condition affecting the soft and hard tissue around dental implants. A promising strategy to prevent these conditions is the use of antibacterial implants. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial potential of titanium (Ti) dental implants modified using plasma-electrolytic oxidation (PEO). The modified surfaces were subsequently loaded with silver (Ag) ( n = 6) and zinc (Zn) ( n = 6) ions and compared to unloaded Ti specimens ( n = 6), with untreated specimens serving as controls. The specimens (each n = 5) were incubated in a culture medium containing a mixture of specific anaerobic bacterial strains. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the bacterial biofilm on each specimen. In addition, total bacterial deoxxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the number of viable bacteria were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qrt-PCR) and colony forming unit analysis (CFU), respectively. The results of the CFU analysis showed a 2 log (99%) reduction in viable bacteria in the samples loaded with Ag and Zn compared to the unloaded control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, significantly lower bacterial DNA counts were detected with a 5 log reduction (99.999%) in the Ag and Zn samples compared to the positive control group (bacterial mixed culture solution, p < 0.05). Therefore, it was considered that Ag and Zn loaded Ti implants may be a promising addition to current approaches to enable advanced antibacterial dental implants. However, further studies should be conducted to evaluate the in vivo cytocompatibility of the developed specimens.

The relationship between oral microbiome composition and brain health in the general population remains poorly understood. In this study, we inferred a microbiome similarity network based on 16S rRNA sequencing data of crevicular fluid collected from 1,026 participants in the Hamburg City Health Study, which revealed a continuous disease gradient mirroring the microbial pathogenicity spectrum of periodontitis. Leveraging this network, we systematically examined associations between periodontal microbiome profiles and 37 brain health-related phenotypes, including cognitive function, brain structure, mental health, inflammatory biomarkers, diet, vascular risk factors, and demographics. We found that higher abundance of periodontitis-related microbial taxa was linked to poorer cognitive performance, lower cortical thickness and subcortical volumes, and elevated leukocyte counts, after adjusting for covariates. Notably, we identified both, previously known as well as novel microbial associations with brain health phenotypes. These findings advance the understanding of the oral microbiome-brain axis, suggesting mechanistic links between periodontal health and brain function with potential implications for future causal and interventional studies.  ### Competing Interest Statement JG has received speaker fees from Lundbeck, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, Otsuka and Boehringer outside the submitted work. JF reported receiving personal fees from Acandis, Cerenovus, Microvention, Medtronic, Phenox, and Penumbra; receiving grants from Stryker and Route 92; being managing director of eppdata; and owning shares in Tegus and Vastrax; all outside the submitted work. RT is a co-inventor of an international patent on the use of a computing device to estimate the probability of myocardial infarction (PCT/EP2021/073193, International Publication Number WO2022043229A1). RT is shareholder of the company ART-EMIS GmbH Hamburg. GT has received fees as consultant or lecturer from Acandis, Alexion, Amarin, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BristolMyersSquibb/Pfizer, Daichi Sankyo, Portola, and Stryker outside the submitted work. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest. ### Funding Statement This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation): PAROMIND 514762487 GZ AA 93/9-1 and GZ CH 2631/4-1 (B.C., G.A.); Sonderforschungsbereich 936 178316478 C2 (G.T., B.C.); and Schwerpunktprogramm 2041 454012190 (G.T.). Microbiome sequencing received infrastructure support from the DFG Research Unit 5042 miTarget and the DFG Excellence Cluster 2167 Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation (PMI). ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: PAROMIND and the HCHS were approved by the local ethics committee of the Landesaerztekammer Hamburg (State of Hamburg Chamber of Medical Practitioners, PV5131). The conduct of PAROMIND is governed by ethical guidelines of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Good Epidemiological Practice (GEP) and the Declaration of Helsinki.39 Written informed consent was obtained from all participants investigated in this work. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes HCHS data can be obtained by qualified researchers on reasonable request to the studys steering committee. The analysis code for this work is publicly available on GitHub (https://github.com/csi-hamburg/oral\_microbiome\_brain_health). Interactive versions of the plots can be found on OSF (https://osf.io/9ykv5).

Einleitung: Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss von Übergewicht (BMI≥25 (kg/m²)) auf den Mundgesundheitsstatus bei PatientInnen mit adulter Hypophosphatasie (HPP) zu untersuchen.

AIM:Vitamin D deficiency is common in hypophosphatasia (HPP) patients. However, its impact on oral health is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Vitamin D levels and oral health in adults with hypophosphatasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this retrospective study, oral health and bone metabolism in HPP patients were examined. The Decayed/Missing/Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), and periodontal screening index (PSI) were among the metrics used to evaluate oral health. RESULTS:The average age of the 48 HPP patients in the study was 42.21 (±15.78) years. A mean Vitamin D level of 29 μg/L was used to divide the participants into two groups. Compared to patients with Vitamin D levels above 29 μg/L, those with levels below this threshold showed noticeably worse oral health, as evidenced by higher PSI, PPD, decayed tooth count, and periodontitis severity index. CONCLUSION:The results imply that adults with HPP who have low Vitamin D levels have worse oral health. To potentially improve oral health, it is crucial to diagnose and treat Vitamin D deficiency in HPP patients, as it is a known risk factor for periodontitis in the general population.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) level on the oral health status as a predictive marker in patients with hypophosphatasia (HPP). Throughout a systematic retrospective assessment both bone metabolism and oral health status were analyzed. The oral health status was assessed by the decayed/missing/filled teeth index (DMFT), clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), and the periodontal screening index (PSI). A total of 48 HPP patients (81.3

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Recent translational research indicated a bidirectional relationship between NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) and periodontitis; however, few clinical cohorts have studied this in detail. Thus we investigated this assumed association in a well-defined cohort.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Data were generated prospectively for 132 patients (32 patients with NASH and 100 unselected, consecutively collected, anonymized controls from a local dental practice): detailed periodontal parameters, i.e., pocket-probing-depths (PPD), bleeding-on-probing (BOP), plaque-index, and utilization of dental care were assessed and correlated with relevant hepatic parameters (liver stiffness via fibroscan, AST, ALT, bilirubin, and MELD-score). Gingiva samples were tested for Porphyromonas gingvalis (P.g.) and Actinobacillus actinomyctemcomitans (A.a.) by PCR.RESULTS:87.5% of NASH patients and 47% of controls suffered from moderate to severe periodontitis (p=0.01). Liver stiffness was significantly correlated with elevated PPD (p=0.02) and BOP (p=0.03). 34 % of the NASH patients did not make use of regular dental health care. In these patients, AST (p=0.04), MELD score (p<0.01), and liver stiffness (p=0.01) were significantly elevated compared to those who see a dentist regularly. The severity of NASH was not associated with the intraoral detection of P.g. and A.a.CONCLUSIONS:The present study suggests that NASH might be associated with periodontitis, irrespective of the intraoral presence of P.g. and A.a. Moreover, regular dental care utilization might mitigate the course of NASH, and patients should be reminded by their hepatologists of the importance of regular dental visits. Future studies should investigate the role of regular dental care and additional anti-inflammatory treatments of the oral cavity.

Zusammenfassung Im Oktober 2019 startete mit iMED DENT der erste Modellstudiengang Zahnmedizin in Deutschland. Dem Start ging ein mehrjähriger Entwicklungsprozess voraus, in dem anfangs u. a. europäische Standorte mit innovativen Zahnmedizinstudiengängen besucht wurden. Danach wurde das zentrale Reformziel des Modellstudiengangs festgelegt: die Entwicklung, Implementierung und fortlaufende Optimierung eines interdisziplinären Curriculums mit Wissenschaftsbezug, das theoretische und praktische zahnmedizinische Inhalte integriert. Weitere Schritte waren die Entwicklung der Studiengangziele sowie der modularen Studienstruktur. Letztere besteht aus den 3 Teilen „Normalfunktion“, „Vom Symptom zur Erkrankung“ und „Therapie“. Im Curriculum wird der zentrale Bereich der Zahnmedizin von den medizinischen Grundlagenfächern und den klinisch-medizinischen Fächern flankiert. Der vorliegende Beitrag berichtet über die wichtigen Entwicklungsschritte des Modellstudiengangs, seine Struktur und qualitätssichernde Maßnahmen. Erste Auswertungen zur Erreichung von Studiengangzielen bzw. zum Optimierungsbedarf im laufenden Curriculum werden vorgestellt.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Mundgesundheit ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der allgemeinen Gesundheit und des Wohlbefindens. Sie wird von vielen Faktoren beeinflusst. Dazu zählen insbesondere individuelle Aspekte wie Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten. Ziel der Studie war die Bestimmung des konkreten Zusammenhangs zwischen Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten mit physischer Mundgesundheit. Methoden In dieser bevölkerungsbasierten Querschnittsstudie wurden Daten von insgesamt 5510 Personen, welche von 2016 bis 2018 in die Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS) eingeschlossen wurden, mit einem durchschnittlichen Alter von 62,1 Jahren und einem Frauenanteil von 50,7 % ausgewertet. Die physische Mundgesundheit wurde mit den 14 Items des Physical Oral Health Index (PhOX) erhoben. Zur Bestimmung von Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten wurde ein neu entwickelter Fragebogen mit 10 Aspekten basierend auf dem Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire und der 5. Deutschen Mundgesundheitsstudie genutzt. Ergebnisse Der Summenwert der 10 Fragen in Bezug auf Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten korrelierte signifikant mit dem PhOX-Summenwert (r = 0,23; p < 0,001). Ein Anstieg von einem Punkt des Gesamtwerts zu Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten war assoziiert mit einer Erhöhung des PhOX-Summenwerts um durchschnittlich 1,45 Punkte. Dies reduzierte sich nur unwesentlich nach Einbeziehung von potenziellen Confoundern wie Alter und Bildung. Schlussfolgerung Höhere Mundgesundheitskompetenz und besseres entsprechendes Verhalten sind assoziiert mit einer besseren Mundgesundheit. Damit bilden Mundgesundheitskompetenz und -verhalten wichtige Zielgrößen in der zahnmedizinischen Ausbildung zur effizienten und nachhaltigen Verbesserung der Mundgesundheit in der Allgemeinbevölkerung.