Preschooler too rare in dental prophylaxis

Dental check-ups in preschool children too rare

25/04/2012

Two-thirds of preschool children miss dental prophylaxis. While in the six to 18-year-olds after all, 68 percent once a year perform an individual check-up at the dentist, this applies to the under-six to only 31 percent, so the result of a recent study by the health insurance Barmer GEK.

In the 2012 Dental Report, Barmer GEK evaluated all dental treatments of its more than eight million insured persons from the year 2010. The study shows that two out of three preschoolers do not perceive the possibility of dental prophylaxis. This increases the risk of tooth decay on the deciduous teeth. Damage to the deciduous dentition can also lead to damage to the permanent teeth, warn the experts.

Expansion of group prophylaxis in kindergartens required
In her dental report, Barmer GEK records factors such as treatment rate, dentist contacts and expenses, broken down by region, gender and age group. Compared to the previous year's report, the figures of the dental report show only a few changes in 2012, but again show in the preschool children, according to the opinion of the experts too low participation in dental prophylaxis. Although take 31 percent of children in preschool age, the possibility of check-up, but the proportion must be further expanded, the study authors demanded. Here, the experts also pleaded for increased group examinations or group prophylaxis in kindergartens. At the presentation of the dental report 2012 on Tuesday in Berlin, study author Thomas Schäfer from the Hannover Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Systems Research emphasized the importance of prophylaxis for the dental health of children. Damage of the deciduous teeth would have „later often damage the permanent teeth result“, so the statement of the expert. Schäfer therefore demanded: „We need to strengthen the acceptance of the infant screening, especially in socially deprived families and single mothers.“

Children must not be relegated to dental progress
About six percent of the total fillings used concern the deciduous teeth, which, according to the authors and the Barmer GEK, argues for an expansion of group prophylaxis among preschool children. Also, a more intensive care of children from socially disadvantaged families is appropriate, explained the experts. „We have to be careful that the smallest ones are not left behind by dental advances“, The deputy CEO of Barmer GEK, Rolf-Ulrich Schlenker, warned at the presentation of the dental report. A systematic expansion of group care in kindergartens is therefore necessary. However, even with the six to 18-year-olds by no means everything runs perfectly. Although 68 percent of adolescents in this age group participate in individual check-ups at the dentist, but „Here, too, we have to see to it that the contribution money is used even more appropriately and that we do not risk the two-thirds supply, "warned Rolf-Ulrich Schlenker.

Women more often at the dentist than men
With regard to the total population, the willingness to prophylaxis seems altogether still expandable. Thus, only slightly more than half of the more than eight million Barmer insured GEK claimed the annual dental prophylaxis and stamp in the bonus booklet. Although the entries in the bonus booklet promise advantages and copayment exemptions for future dental treatments, this incentive does not seem to interest many. Although women are significantly more likely to visit the dentist than men (74% versus 66% at least once a year), around a quarter of them refrain from the annual routine check-up. In terms of dental health, it would therefore be desirable to increase the individual provision of the dentist, the expert said. (Fp)

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Picture: Claudia Heck