DENT ESTET research on children's dental health: "Almost half of Romanian parents take their child to the dentist for a cleaning less than once in two

·??????Only 2 out of 10 parents are aware that temporary (milk) teeth only change between 10 to 12 years of age.

·??????45% of the respondents state that their children experienced their first toothache associated with a cavity that requires immediate intervention between 0 and 3 years of age.

·??????Untreated cavities can cause pain and discomfort that interferes with a child's sleep, ability to focus, and academic achievement.

·??????Dental fillings are the most frequently requested dental treatments for children under the age of 12 as a result of poor oral hygiene and lack of regular dental care.

·??????The main resource for data on Romanians' oral health of all ages is the DENT ESTET barometer.

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BUCHAREST, February 15, 2023 – According to data resulted from a study on Romanians' behaviour related to children's dental health, ?initiated by DENT ESTET in partnership with Reveal Marketing Research, roughly 4 out of 10 parents take their children to the dentist only once in every two years for a proffesional cleaning..

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

Only 22% of parents whose children are under the age of 12 reported accessing dental care once a year for prophylaxis, whereas 18% claimed they went twice as often, following the general recommendations.

The figures are alarming given the fact that the prevalence of dental cavities among Romanian children continues to be extremely high. Numerous studies demonstrate the critical contribution dental prophylaxis education has in avoiding cavities on both permanent teeth and infant teeth.

Dental fillings are among the most requested dental treatments for children under 12

According to the study conducted by DENT ESTET, 45% of the respondents declare that their children's first toothache happened between 0 and 3 years of age. Pain is usually associated with cavities that require urgent treatment, which is reflected in the increased number of dental fillings, representing 29% of dental treatments performed on children under 12 years of age.

It is easier to prevent than to treat, Regular visits to the pediatric dentist have also the role of accustoming the child with the dental office environment. But a significantly high percentage of parents, namely 40%, do not access basic dental care for their children. When dental treatments are seeked only in emergency situations, as is the case of 15% of the respondents, the child patient experiences amplifieddiscomfort and emotional stress.

Professional dental cleaning, one of the simplest prophylactic procedures,helps maintain oral health in the long run, is only requested by ?17% of respondents. Sealing, a non-invasive and long-term effective prophylactic treatment, is accessed by only 15% of children under 12.

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"Temporary dentition plays an essential role in child development and oral health education is essential in encouraging preventive behaviors. Tooth decay is a condition that can be controlled by accessing dental services, and regular check-ups, cavity screenings and prophylaxis are simple and effective procedures that help maintaining healthy teeth. For over 14 years, DENT ESTET 4 KIDShas been relentless educating parents and children about the importance of dental health. We will continue our efforts in raising awareness on the effects of delaying dental treatment, which has greater financial and emotional costs on families than preventive services." said Dr. Oana Taban, CEO & Founder of DENT ESTET.

Large educational gaps about child tooth development among parents: only 2 out of 10 parents in Romania know that temporary teeth change only around the age of 10-12 years.

A previous study, carried out at national level by Romanian health specialists, published in 2022 by MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), shows that the average DMFT index score (World Health Organization index for decayed, missing or filled teeth) for Romania is 4.89, a very high value taking into account the recommendations of WHO. Comparatively, 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 degree of education of the parents has an impact on the occurrence of caries in children of this age group, an indicator that was emphasized by a different study ?conducted in Belgium.

According to the results of the study carried out at the request of DENT ESTET, only 2 out of 10 Romanian parents (19%) know that the temporary teeth change completely only around the age of 10-12 years. At the same time, almost 37% of parents stated that the permanent dentition is completed around the age of 7-8 years, and 25% around the age of 9-10 years.

“It is a common misconception that temporary teeth cavities in children will get fixed by themselves when the infant teeth fall out and the permanent teeth develop.. The development of permanent teeth, their position, order of eruption, as well as the correct alignment in later adulthood can all be affected by early dental decay. Untreated cavities also cause discomfort and pain, which can affect a child's ability to focus, sleep, and perform well in school. Because prevention is always preferable than treatment, parents must be constantly reminded of the significance of their child's routine appointments to the pediatric dentist” said Dr. Raluca Georgescu, pediatric dentistry specialist at the DENT ESTET 4 KIDS clinics.

Children's dental health education – associated with decreased caries incidence

Prevention of dental cavities is part of the EU's efforts in promoting oral health and education. A study on European caries management 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. Heliyon. 2021), shows that the incidence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a major problem until the age of 6.

Additionally, the findings show that in high-income countries, more than half of tooth decay in 12-year-old children goes untreated, and that the situation is even worse in middle-income countries, where two-thirds of these cavities go untreated. The analysis also shows that parents' education regarding bad habits, as well asthe correct dietary choices, can influence the level of the DMFT index (indicator of the prevalence of decayed, missing or filled teeth).

Early cavity management is effective in preventing negative outcomes on child tooth development, as well as easing the financial burden of complex treatments on the family budget. ?Prevention is far more accessible than curative treatments, which require longer interventions, higher expenditures and significantly more mental stress for the child patient.

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Methodology: The Reveal Marketing Research study was conducted online between 13-17.10.2022 on a representative sample of 1011 individuals aged 25 to 65, internet users with incomes above average, residents of large urban areas. The maximum sampling error is +/-3.1% at the 95% confidence level.

About DENT ESTET

The DENT ESTET group was established in 1999 and is currently the market leader in the field of dental medicine services in Romania, consisting of 18 clinics in 9 cities. In its 24 years of existence, the group has developed a community of 577 involved members, of which 185 are doctors who work exclusively within the DENT ESTET clinics.

Currently, the group owns 18 multidisciplinary dental clinics in Bucharest, Timi?oara, Sibiu, Bra?ov, Ploie?ti, Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Craiova and Arad, serving all age groups, 6 divisions of excellence that are 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 digitized dental technique laboratory – Aspen. DENT ESTET offers an integrated experience both through the 10 digital photo studios - Future Smile Studio and through the 10 fully digitized imaging and radiology centers, that include computed tomography (CBCT) machines. All of the above result in 110 units with hi-tech equipment, including 9 surgery rooms that are completely equipped for interventions carried out under the supervision of ICU specialized doctors.

Among the significant 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 exclusively dedicated?to children and teenagers, and last but not least, the Dental Office?Managers Association (ADOM), the organizer of courses within the first school of managers working in dental clinics.

Through accreditations from numerous international organizations, including the International Team for Implantology, Digital Dentistry Society, Leading Implant Centers, The European Federation of Periodontology, World Federation of Orthodontists and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, DENT ESTET clinics are in line with international standards in the field of dentistry. For the benefit of our patients, we are the first in Romania to use the Quality Assurance Certificate.

Starting 2016, DENT ESTET is part of the MedLife group, a Romanian company with tradition, which chose to invest in other Romanian projects that impact local communities.

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About Reveal Marketing Research

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