This thematic issue of the Dutch Journal of Dentistry surveys morbidity among dentists and this specific article deals with their mortality. Causes of death among retired dentists mirror to a large degree those of their social and economical class. This implies higher life expectancy than average, preceded by a shorter period of disabling diseases. Mortality due to professional risks has become rare. An item that keeps recurring in medical literature is the presumed higher suicide rates among dentists, which are attributed to stress and psychic problems. Most literature on this subject however shows serious methodological flaws. Nevertheless higher suicide rates are not to be excluded, but this can only be assessed by properly designed prospective studies during a considerable time.
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