By Birgit Bürkner
Although they are entitled to regular dental screening examinations from the age of 6 months, children in Berlin do not take enough preventive care. On the other hand, there is a worrying development: more and more girls and boys are developing chalk teeth.
For the Barmer Dental Report 2023, the health insurance company evaluated the data of its 430,000 insured people in Berlin. “The good news first: the dental health of adolescents in Berlin has generally improved in recent years,” says Barmer boss Gabriela Leyh.
In the 5 to 9 year old age group in Berlin, around 44 percent still needed treatment in 2012, but in 2021 it was only around 33 percent. Among 10 to 19 year olds, the proportion fell from 41 to 32 percent. Leyh: “These results are very pleasing. But they must not obscure a major problem.”
The burden of caries is concentrated on certain risk groups: ten percent of children account for 80 to 85 percent of the therapy costs! Causes: poor oral hygiene, consumption of sugary drinks and sweets.
Unfavorable: the lack of use of preventive examinations! Not even two thirds of 5 to 9 year olds (64 percent) take prophylaxis. This value is below the national average (67 percent). There are even fewer in the 10 to 19 year old age group at 61.5 percent (federal: 64.8 percent). According to Leyh, holes, misalignments and discolorations can be detected early, especially during checks.
White-yellowish or yellowish-brown discoloration indicates chalk teeth. Around 17,000 children (7.6 percent) under the age of 12 in Berlin suffer from the phenomenon of this molar incisor hypermineralization; in 2020 it was still 6 percent. At worst, your teeth are as porous and crumbly as chalk.
According to Barmer’s investigations, socioeconomic characteristics such as level of education and income, place of residence or factors such as premature birth and cesarean section could be excluded as risk factors. But: Children with chalk teeth were prescribed around 10 percent more antibiotics than children without chalk teeth…
However, those affected can be helped: with fluoride or calcium phosphate preparations, fillings, and crowns.