Dental education in Germany is characterized by a large amount of practical clinical training. Especially in prosthetics, a young dentist’s practical ability to implement treatments is challenged by the many different treatment options available to him. Education is meant to take this into account. In the following research paper, a profile of 50 years of clinical-prosthetic courses at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg from 1948 to 1998 was to be created and related to the technical and scientific development. Archived case histories and course books were used to determine the number of students, the volume of patients, and the type and number of treatments. In particular, the Deutsche Zahnaerztliche Zeitschrift (for Germany) and the Deutsche Stomatologie (for former East Germany) were used to outline the scientific development. In the relevant period, the number of patients, and consequently the number of treatments, clearly decline. Significant changes occur with the introduction of cast and metal-ceramic crowns and cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy removable partial dentures. Endodontic posts, and plastic removable partial dentures and total prostheses are represented in the courses constantly. In both journals, scientific development is partly defined by the availability of certain materials. Depending on the state of science as well as material development, technical innovations are incorporated into the course material after proving to be successful in clinical application. Patient selection and the type of treatments suggest that education primarily focuses on the foundations of conventional prosthetics. This objective is consistent with the European directives. The crucial problem with university education is patient recruitment and patient selection according to didactical criteria. Therefore, the results are not representative of dental prosthesis of the respective period. |