Barmer: Too many children miss out on dental check-ups
Relatively many children and young people in Berlin miss preventive dental check-ups, according to a health insurance analysis. Among ten to 19-year-olds, for example, less than one in three (around 62%) went to such appointments in 2021, according to the Barmer Dental Report, which was presented in Berlin on Tuesday. There are also hardly any more five to nine-year-olds. In both age groups, Berlin is below the national average.
Overall, the fund speaks of a general improvement in dental health among children and adolescents in recent years. However, according to the report, the gap between very good and very bad teeth is widening. Although there are more and more children without fillings, there are also children with hardly any healthy teeth. A large proportion of treatments are concentrated on just a few of the young patients.
"Parents should ensure a positive relationship between children and dentists from an early age and not just visit a dental practice when they have a toothache," appealed Barmer's regional managing director Gabriela Leyh in a press release. Children are entitled to regular dental check-ups from the age of six months. According to Barmer, the survey was based on figures from a total of more than 60,000 children and young people aged 0 to 19 who are insured with the health insurance company. The data is representative, it said.
Given the context, here are two sentences that contain the words 'Health', 'Science', and 'Children':
The improvement in dental health among children and adolescents is a result of advancements in dental science. Encouraging regular dental check-ups from a young age can contribute significantly to children's overall health and wellbeing.
Source: www.dpa.com
