Less tooth decay in children in MV: Successful dental program works!

Less tooth decay in children in MV: Successful dental program works!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania we can be happy: children have caries less often today than they did two decades ago. The caries numbers in MV used to be well above the national average. But how did this positive development come about? In 2003, the “Healthy Teeth from the Beginning” program was launched by the State Working Group on Youth Dental Care, and Professor Christian Splieth, head of the polyclinic for pediatric dentistry at the University of Greifswald, played a key role in this improvement. Splieth also gave a strong boost by receiving the Wrigley Prophylaxis Prize for the 20-year evaluation of intensive prophylaxis in daycare centers and schools.

A central aspect of this success is the obligation to have school dental examinations, which are considered an effective means of promoting the dental health of the youngest children. The program has two main goals: firstly, to expand the prevention of early childhood caries in daycare centers and secondly to provide more intensive care in facilities with an increased incidence of caries. In total, around 16,000 children in 261 crèches benefit from these measures, which corresponds to almost half of a year group.

Effective measures for caries prevention

The program relies on a variety of measures that have proven to be extremely effective:

• Engagierte Kooperation mit Kitas
• Verwendung fluoridhaltiger Zahnpasta
• Finanzierung einer zusätzlichen Prophylaxe-Fachkraft pro Landkreis
• Dauerhafte wissenschaftliche Erfolgsmessung

Daily brushing of teeth with fluoride toothpaste has been made legal in kindergartens, reaching around 88 percent of children. To date, almost 100,000 children have learned proper dental care.

Thanks to these efforts, the decline in caries rates cannot be overlooked: children aged twelve have on average only 0.43 carious teeth, which puts them in an excellent position internationally. The caries values ​​of three-year-olds (0.35 teeth) and six-year-olds (1.4 teeth) are also below the Germany-wide average. These figures show that comprehensive caries prevention in the country more than pays off and achieves encouraging results.

The role of science and current recommendations

Science provides valuable insights, for example through systematic reviews of the effectiveness of fissure sealants and other dental measures. These are regularly updated and support commitment to oral health. The recommendations of the German Society for Preventive Dentistry (DGPZM) on dental care for children are particularly important here.

Overall, it shows that a strong tooth brushing program combined with dedicated care and the right resources makes a decisive contribution to improving children's dental health. With a good knack for prevention and education, it will be possible to continue these positive trends.