Number of children with tooth decay declining

04/07/2014

In Brandenburg, the number of children with tooth decay has been declining for years. Responsible for this was among others the dental group prophylaxis. By the year 2020, the federal state has set high goals.

Dental group prophylaxis ensures less tooth decay
The number of children with tooth decay has been declining in Brandenburg for years. In 2004, the proportion of children with caries-free teeth was 77 percent among the three-year-olds and 52 percent among the five-year-olds. But in the 2012/2013 school year, 86 percent of three-year-olds and 65 percent of five-year-olds already had a healthy set of teeth. Improvements were made, among other things, by dental group prophylaxis, which was intensified according to the Brandenburg Ministry of Health and since 2010 also includes two-year-olds.

High goals by 2020
Brandenburg has set itself ambitious goals. By the year 2020, about 90 percent of all three-year-olds and 80 percent of children over the age of five are to have caries-free baby teeth. On Wednesday, the country's Children's Health Conference in Potsdam will meet under the motto: „10 Years Alliance Healthy Growing up - more chances for a healthy growing up of all children“. In the run-up, the Brandenburg Health Minister Anita Tack (left) told the „Märkische Oder newspaper“: „The knowledge about health risks of children and adolescents has never been as good as it is today.“ But the knowledge must also be implemented.

Deciduous tooth decay has increased in recent years
The positive trend noted in Brandenburg would also be desirable nationwide and in all age groups. But just a few months ago, dentist organizations had been alarmed by the increase in caries among infants under the age of three. Accordingly, the deciduous tooth decay in recent years has continued to increase. In view of the increase, medical representatives demanded much earlier check-ups at the dentist. In the future, children should be put into practice as early as the sixth month of life, that is, with the breakthrough of the first deciduous teeth, for the screening test. So far, such controls in the statutory health insurance are only intended for children from two and a half years. (Sb)

Picture: Claudia Heck