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The aim of this review paper was to describe utilization of the dental care system and oral self-care practices among Danish citizens. All children and adolescents have access to free-of-charge preventive and curative dental care offered by school-based outreaching public dental health services. Almost 100 % of the target group participates in this programme. The adult population is offered dental care by dentists in private practice, which is partly paid by the National Health Insurance (NHI). The reimbursement scheme of the NHI gives priority to preventive dental visits as well as to dental services that include oral hygiene instructions and counselling on diet and use of tobacco. In the last thirty years there has been an increase in the proportion of Danes who make regular dental visits and there has also been some enhancement of oral hygiene habits in terms of tooth brushing, use of toothpicks and dental floss. However, there are still population groups who do not use the dental care system regularly and who do not benefit from preventive dental care, in particular, disadvantaged older people. This inequity among those with poor living conditions and poor dental care habits has a social gradient. In future, oral health promotion should be directed specifically to these underprivileged groups. Tools are recommended for evaluating oral health activities directed towards reducing the burden of oral diseases, especially in relation to dental caries, periodontal disease and lesions of the oral mucosa.

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