6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6): rationale, study design, and baseline characteristics.

The age groups for the cross-sectional study were selected following the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for oral epidemiologic studies. These include 12-year-olds as representatives for younger adolescents, 35- to 44-year-olds for younger adults, and 65- to 74-year-olds for younger seniors. An additional age group of 8- and 9-year-olds (younger children) was included to obtain information on oral health during the mixed dentition phase. In total, 3,377 study participants were included in the analyses for the cross-sectional questions (prevalences). Participant characteristics provide insights into their sociodemographic and behavioral parameters.