DENT ESTET study on children’s dental health

• Only 2 in 10 parents know that baby teeth do not start to fall out until around the age of 10–12;
• 45% of respondents state that their children’s first toothache, associated with a cavity requiring immediate treatment, occurred between the ages of 0 and 3;
• The pain and discomfort caused by untreated cavities can affect a child’s sleep, concentration and school performance;
• Due to poor oral hygiene and delayed visits to the dentist, dental fillings are the most commonly requested dental treatments for children under 12;
• The DENT ESTET Barometer is the main source of information on the oral health of Romanians, regardless of age.

BUCHAREST, 15 February 2023 – Data from a study conducted by DENT ESTET in collaboration with Reveal Marketing Research on Romanians’ attitudes towards children’s dental health shows that nearly 4 in 10 parents take their child to the dentist for a scaling appointment less than once every two years.

For over 24 years, the DENT ESTET barometer has been the main source of information on the oral health of Romanians, regardless of age.

According to the survey data, only 22% of parents with children under 12 said their children visit the dentist for a preventive check-up once a year, whilst 18% said they go twice a year, as recommended by dentists.

These figures are alarming, given that the prevalence of tooth decay among children in Romania remains extremely high. Numerous studies show that education, but above all dental check-ups, play a crucial role in preventing the development of tooth decay in both milk teeth and permanent teeth.

Dental fillings – among the most sought-after dental services for children under 12

According to a study commissioned by DENT ESTET, 45% of respondents stated that their children’s first toothache occurred between the ages of 0 and 3. Pain caused by tooth decay requires immediate treatment, which is reflected in the increased incidence of dental fillings, accounting for 29% of dental treatments sought for children under 12.

Prevention is easier than cure, and regular visits to the paediatric dentist also help the child become accustomed to the dental surgery environment. However, a significant proportion – 40% of parents – do not seek even the most basic dental care for their children. When dental treatment is sought only in emergencies, as is the case for 15% of respondents, the dental discomfort combined with the emotional stress experienced by the child will be amplified.

Scaling, one of the simplest preventive procedures that helps maintain long-term oral health, is only sought by 17% of children under 12, whilst sealants, a non-invasive preventive treatment with long-term effectiveness, are used by just 15%.

“Primary teeth play a vital role in a child’s harmonious development, and education about oral health is essential for shaping preventive behaviours. Tooth decay is a condition that can be kept under control through access to dental services, and regular check-ups, caries screening and prophylaxis are simple and effective methods for maintaining healthy teeth. For over 14 years, the DENT ESTET 4 Kids team has been working to educate parents and children on the importance of dental health. “We will continue to make every effort to raise awareness of the consequences of delaying caries treatment, which entails greater financial and emotional costs for families than preventive care,” said Dr Oana Taban, CEO & Founder of DENT ESTET.

Significant gaps in knowledge regarding children’s dental development: only 2 in 10 parents in Romania know that baby teeth are not replaced until around the age of 10–12

A previous nationwide study by Romanian health specialists, published in 2022 by MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), shows that the average DMFT score (the WHO index for decayed, missing or filled teeth) is 4.89, a very high figure considering the World Health Organisation’s recommendations. By comparison, the DMFT index is 4.5 in Hungary, 4.14 in Croatia, and 1.77 in Greece.

The authors of the study also demonstrated that the prevalence of caries in children in this age group is influenced by the parents’ level of education, a finding highlighted by another study conducted in Belgium.

According to the results of the research carried out at the request of DENT ESTET, only 2 in 10 parents in Romania (19%) know that baby teeth are not fully replaced until around the age of 10–12. At the same time, nearly 37% of parents believed that the permanent set of teeth is complete around the age of 7–8, and 25% around the age of 9–10.

“The misconception is that once the baby teeth fall out and the permanent teeth come through, the child will be free of tooth decay, but the reality is different. Early tooth decay can affect the bud of the permanent tooth, the eruption of future teeth and the correct alignment of the adult’s permanent teeth later on. Untreated tooth decay causes discomfort and pain, and can affect a child’s sleep, concentration and academic performance. “Prevention is better than cure, which is why parents need to be informed about the importance of regular visits to the paediatric dentist,” said Dr Raluca Georgescu, a specialist in paediatric dentistry at DENT ESTET 4 KIDS clinics.

Children’s dental health education – linked to a reduction in the incidence of tooth decay

The prevention of dental caries is part of the EU’s efforts to promote oral health and education. A study on the European management of childhood caries, published in 2021, (Bencze Z, Kovalecz G, Márton S, Gáll T, Mahrouseh N, Varga O. Childhood caries management in the European Union: A cross-sectional study) shows that the incidence of early childhood caries (Early Childhood Caries - ECC) is a major problem up to the age of 6.

Furthermore, according to the data, more than half of the decayed teeth in 12-year-olds in high-income countries remain untreated, whilst the situation is even worse in middle-income countries, where two-thirds of these cavities do not receive treatment.

The analysis also shows that educating parents about harmful habits, as well as proper nutrition, can influence the DMFT index (an indicator of the prevalence of decayed, missing or filled teeth).

When caries management begins early, we avoid negative effects on the child’s health, as well as the higher costs of more complex treatments. Preventive services are far more accessible than curative treatments, which involve longer procedures, higher costs and cause significantly greater emotional stress for the child.

Methodology: The Reveal Marketing Research study was conducted online between 13–17 October 2022 on a representative sample of the population aged 25–65, with above-average incomes, residing in large urban areas, and who are internet users. The sample size was 1,011 respondents, and the maximum sampling error is +/-3.1% at a 95% confidence level.

The DENT ESTET Group was founded in 1999 and is currently the market leader in dental services in Romania, with 18 clinics across 9 cities. Over its 24 years in existence, it has built a community of 577 dedicated members, including 185 dentists who practise exclusively within DENT ESTET clinics.

Currently, the group operates 18 multidisciplinary dental clinics in Bucharest, Timișoara, Sibiu, Brașov, Ploiești, Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Craiova and Arad, catering to all age groups, 6 divisions of excellence unique in Romania (DE Implant Division, Aesthetic Division, Ortho DE Digital Team, DE Laser Division, DE Laser Periodontics Team and DE Endodontics Team) and a fully digitalised dental laboratory – Aspen. DENT ESTET offers an integrated experience through both its 10 digital photography studios – Future Smile Studio – and its 10 fully digitalised imaging and radiology centres, which include cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners. All of these comprise a total of 110 units equipped to hi-tech standards, including 9 fully equipped operating theatres for procedures performed under the supervision of a specialist anaesthetist.

Among the major innovations introduced to the Romanian market are DENT ESTET 4 KIDS (2008) and DENT ESTET 4 TEENS (2012), the first dental clinics in Romania and Eastern Europe dedicated exclusively to children and teenagers, and, last but not least, the Dental Office Managers Association (ADOM), under whose umbrella the courses of the first school for managers specialising in dental clinics are held.

DENT ESTET clinics are aligned with international standards in the field of dentistry, through accreditations received from numerous global institutions, including the International Team for Implantology, the Digital Dentistry Society, Leading Implant Centres, the European Federation of Periodontology, the World Federation of Orthodontists, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. We were the first in Romania to implement the Quality Commitment Certificate, for the benefit of our patients.

Since 2016, DENT ESTET has been part of the MedLife group, a long-established Romanian company that has chosen to invest in other Romanian projects with an impact on local communities.

Reveal Marketing Research is a full-service market research company specialising in marketing research, sociological studies, customer insights, business strategy and market development. With expertise across more than 20 industries, Reveal Marketing Research believes that market research forms the basis for sound decision-making and brand positioning. For 14 years, its qualitative and quantitative solutions have been helping companies in Romania and across Europe.