Aim: The aim of this present study was to assess the dental caries prevalence in children and adolescents aged 3-19 in the Nordic countries, and to examine if the caries prevalence is affected by socioeconomic and cultural differences.

Method: The study is a literature review based on 20 scientific medical reports based on the aim of this study.

Result: Decayed missed filled surfaces (dmfs) of the 3-year-olds varies from 0.3 to 0.99 and from 0.9 to 7.3 in 5-year-old children. The Nordic 12-year-olds have similar numerical values. In Nordic 14-year-olds caries prevalence increases. In the late teens there is a reduction in caries prevalence. Children at Greenland have five times more teeth decayed than other Danish children. Socioeconomic and cultural differences can affect the caries prevalence negatively.

Conclusions: The caries prevalence in 3-19-year-olds in the Nordic countries, exceptGreenland, does not differ significantly between the countries. It is difficult to determine if the caries prevalence generally has decreased or increased in the Nordic countries. A higher caries prevalence can be seen in children with an immigrant background.