Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the development of the distribution of oral health according to socio-economic status in young adults from 1983 to 1994.
Participants: Study material consisted of 23-24 year old adults randomly selected from municipalities in Trøndelag in 1983 and 1994 (n = 796, n = 454).
Results: The results showed that while overall oral health had improved (reduction in mean DFS of 54% from 1983 to 1994), inequality in DFS between socio-economic groups had increased from 1983 to 1994. The widening disparity appeared to be mainly due to a greater decrease in DFS among the group of individuals with high education. None of the comparable variables, gender, residence, time since last dental visit nor type of clinic could explain the widening gap in DFS. For 1994, differences in oral health according to socio-economic status seemed not to be associated with the use of dental services but rather with the comprehensiveness of treatment. Smoking was more prevalent in the low socio-economic group and associated with a higher mean DFS.
Conclusion: The target set by the WHO that by the year 2000 the actual differences in health status between groups should be reduced by at least 25% (WHO, 1988) seems to be unattainable among young adults in Norway.