DENT ESTET study on dental health in children

"Nearly half of parents take their child to the dentist for a professional sanitation less than once every 2 years"

• Only 2 in 10 parents are aware that temporary (baby) teeth only change around 10-12 years of age;
• 45% of respondents report that their child's first toothache, associated with a cavity requiring immediate intervention, occurred between 0 and 3 years of age;
• Pain and discomfort from untreated cavities can affect a child's sleep, concentration and school performance;
• Due to poor hygiene and late visits to the dentist, dental fillings are the most requested dental treatment in children under 12 years of age;
• The DENT ESTET barometer is the main source of information on Romanians' oral health, regardless of age.

BUCHAREST, February 15, 2023 - Data from a study conducted by DENT ESTET in collaboration with Reveal Marketing Research on Romanians' behaviours related to children's dental health show that almost 4 out of 10 parents take their child to the dentist for a scaling session less than once every 2 years.

For more than 24 years, the DENT ESTET barometer has been the main source of information on the oral health of Romanians of all ages.

According to the survey, only 22% of parents with children under 12 said they visit dental surgeries for a prophylaxis session once a year, while 18% say they go twice a year, as recommended by dentists.

The figures are alarming considering that the prevalence of dental caries in Romanian children continues to be extremely high. Numerous studies show that dental education, but especially dental prophylaxis, plays a crucial role in preventing tooth decay on baby teeth as well as on permanent teeth.

Dental fillings - among the most requested dental services for children under 12

According to the survey commissioned by DENT ESTET, 45% of respondents report that their child's first toothache occurred between 0 and 3 years of age. The pain caused by cavities requires immediate treatment, which is reflected in the increased incidence of dental fillings, accounting for 29% of dental treatments accessed for children under 12.

It is easier to prevent than to treat, and regular visits to the paediatric dentist also help the child to adapt to the dental office environment. But a significantly high percentage - 40% of parents - do not use the most basic dental service for their children. When dental treatments are only accessed in emergency situations, as in the case of 15% of respondents, dental discomfort coupled with the emotional stress experienced by the child will be magnified.

Scaling, one of the simplest prophylaxis procedures to help maintain long-term oral health, is accessed by only 17% of children under 12, while sealants, a non-invasive prophylactic treatment with long-term effectiveness, is accessed by only 15%.

"The temporary dentition plays an essential role in a child's harmonious development, and oral health education is essential for shaping preventive behaviours. Tooth decay is a condition that can be kept under control by accessing dental services, and regular check-ups, decay screening and prophylaxis are simple and effective ways to maintain 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 about the effects of delaying caries treatment, which are more costly both financially and emotionally, than preventive services," declared Dr. Oana Taban, CEO & Founder of DENT ESTET.

Large educational gaps in knowledge about the evolution of children's teeth: only 2 out of 10 parents in Romania know that temporary teeth do not change until around the age of 10-12 years

A previous nationwide study by Romanian health specialists, published in 2022 by MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), shows that the average DMFT score (WHO index of decayed, edentulous or filled teeth) is 4.89, a very high value considering the World Health Organization recommendations. In comparison, in Hungary the DMFT index is 4.5, in Croatia 4.14, while in Greece it is 1.77.

The authors of the study also showed that the prevalence of tooth decay in children in this age group is influenced by the parents' level of education, an indicator highlighted by another study conducted in Belgium.

According to the results of the survey commissioned by DENT ESTET, only 2 out of 10 parents in Romania (19%) are aware that temporary teeth are not completely replaced until around the age of 10-12 years. At the same time, almost 37% of parents estimated that permanent teeth are completed around the age of 7-8 years and 25% around the age of 9-10 years.

"The preconception is that once the temporary teeth peel and the permanent ones erupt, the child will get rid of cavities, but the reality is different. Early cavities can affect the budding of the permanent tooth, the eruption of future teeth, and the proper alignment of later adult permanent teeth. Untreated cavities mean discomfort and pain, and can affect a child's sleep, concentration and school performance. It is better to prevent than to treat, that is why parents should be informed about the importance of regular visits of their child to the paediatric dentist", said Dr. Raluca Georgescu, paediatric dentistry specialist at DENT ESTET 4 KIDS clinics.

Children's dental health education - linked to lower caries incidence

Dental caries prevention is part of EU efforts to promote oral health and education. A study on Europe-wide management of caries in children 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 (ECC) is a major problem up to the age of 6 years.

The data also show that more than half of caries in 12-year-olds in high-income countries remain untreated, while the situation is even worse in middle-income countries, where two-thirds of caries in 12-year-olds go untreated.

The analysis also shows that parents' education about vicious habits and proper nutrition can influence the level of the DMFT index (an indicator of the prevalence of decayed, missing or filled teeth).

When caries management starts early, we avoid negative effects on the child's health, as well as the higher costs of more complex treatments. Preventive services are much more affordable than curative treatments, which involve longer, more costly interventions and much higher emotional stress for the child.

Methodology: The Reveal Marketing Research study was conducted online from October 13-17, 2022 on a representative sample of the universe of people aged 25-65, with above average income, residing in large urban areas, internet users. The sample size was 1011 respondents and the maximum sampling error is +/-3.1% at 95% confidence level.

About DENT ESTET

The DENT ESTET Group was established in 1999 and is currently the market leader in dental services in Romania. In the 22 years of its existence, the team has grown to 350 specialists, of which over 130 are doctors. Over the years they have treated more than 130,000 patients.

DENT ESTET owns 12 multidisciplinary dental clinics in Bucharest, Timișoara, Sibiu, Brașov and Ploiești, for all age groups, 3 divisions of excellence unique in Romania (Implant Division, Aesthetic Division and Advanced Orthodontic Division), the first Aspen digital dental laboratory and 3 specialized digital photo studios “Future Smile Studio”. All these bring together a total of 72 treatment rooms equipped to hi-tech standards, on a total area of 3,600 square meters, including 3 fully equipped surgery rooms. DENT ESTET offers an integrated experience through its three fully digitalized imaging and radiology centres, which include computed tomography (CBCT) machines.

Recognized for its contribution to the development of the private dental field in our country, the DENT ESTET group of clinics inaugurated, in 2017, the first fully digitalized dental clinic in Romania and the largest Planmeca Digital Academy centre.

Among the major innovations brought 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 teenagerss and, last but not least, the Association of Dental Office Managers (ADOM), which runs the first school of dental clinic managers.

Since 2016, DENT ESTET has been part of the MedLife group, the largest private healthcare operator in our country.

About Reveal Marketing Research

Reveal Marketing Research is a full-service market research company specializing in marketing research, sociological studies, customer insight, business strategy, and market development. With expertise in more than 20 industries, Reveal Marketing Research believes that market research is the foundation for making the right decisions and positioning brands. Their qualitative and quantitative solutions have been helping companies in Romania and Europe for 14 years.