Barriers for dental treatment of primary teeth in East and West Germany

Splieth, CH; Bunger, B; Pine, C

Abstract

Background.
In many countries, restorative treatment
in primary teeth is suboptimal.
Aim.
Thus, this study tried to detect barriers for
dentists to restore primary teeth in kindergarten
children (3–6 years).
Design.
For a representative survey, 320 dentists
(184 West, 136 East Germany) were randomly
selected from the dental associations’ registers
and asked to answer a questionnaire on their
profile, their view of the National Health System,
and possible barriers for restoring primary
teeth.
Results.
The analysis (response rate 57.7%)
showed that the parents were no barrier and the
dentists felt the need of restoring primary teeth.
In addition to the children’s anxiety, the inadequate
reimbursement for fillings were perceived as clear
barrier. The comparison of West and East German
dentists detected statistically significantly higher
barriers in West Germany, where – in contrast to
the German Democratic Republic – no structured
training in paediatric dentistry was compulsory
before unification. Only 35% of the East German
dentists rated restorative treatment in 3- to 6-year-olds
as stressful in contrast to 65% in West Germany,
where especially male dentists found no time to
treat children.
Conclusion.
This study reveals that dentists can also
be a considerable barrier to restorative treatment in
small children, especially without adequate training
in dental schools.

Citation

Splieth, C., Bunger, B., & Pine, C. (2009). Barriers for dental treatment of primary teeth in East and West Germany. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 19(2), 84-90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-263X.2008.00949.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: May 25, 2012
• Journal: International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
• Print ISSN: 0960-7439
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 84-90
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-263X.2008.00949.x
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-263X.2008.00949.x