Dental Health: Examinations and Preventive Care for Children

Trained dental hygiene staff will teach your children important information about dental health in an age-appropriate way—through fun and games—and guide them through practical toothbrushing exercises. Your children will receive a toothbrush (without toothpaste) as well as informational materials on healthy teeth and a diet that supports dental health.

Dental screenings take place within the safety of the group and in the children’s familiar surroundings. Findings regarding tooth decay, misaligned teeth and jaws, and oral hygiene are recorded. For educational reasons, the children themselves are not informed about their own dental status or that of their peers. Legal guardians are notified in writing of any abnormalities and the need for treatment. Any necessary treatment is provided at the dental or orthodontic practice of your choice.

Screenings are generally conducted once per school year in all elementary and special education schools in the city and district of Fulda. Depending on your child’s needs, they may be screened annually or only once every two years.

At daycare centers, screenings are currently being conducted on an as-needed basis.

Schools: In Hesse, school dental examinations are regulated under the school health care system, and participation in these examinations is mandatory (Sections 71 and 149 of the Hesse School Act).

Daycare Centers: Dental checkups are an optional service offered at daycare centers. If you would like your child to participate in these checkups, we require your written consent, which the daycare center typically obtains upon your child’s enrollment.

The dates will be coordinated with the school administration in advance so that all participating teachers, students, and parents can be informed in a timely manner.

The staff will introduce themselves and provide an introduction to the examination in the classroom. There is always a toothbrushing practice session. For this, we will provide your children with a toothbrush (without toothpaste).

After that, your children will go to the examination room in small groups. A teacher’s presence is usually not necessary and, for data protection reasons, is not required. The children will be seen one at a time. Hygiene standards will, of course, be observed. No child will be forced to participate.

The dates are coordinated in advance with the daycare center administration so that all staff members, children, and parents involved can be informed in a timely manner. Only children whose parents have provided prior written consent may participate.

The examination begins in small groups, starting with a child-friendly introduction to the staff and a playful explanation of the actual procedure. The children are seen one at a time. Hygiene standards are, of course, strictly observed.

No child is forced to participate. Especially with very young children, we often see how much they benefit from the group dynamic and how enthusiastically they join in! For preschool-aged children, the group teachers are always present in the examination room as well.

The examination is conducted by a pediatric dentist from the Public Health Service who has many years of experience, particularly with children. She is assisted by a dental assistant. The results of the examination are subject to medical confidentiality; only parents and legal guardians will be notified of the findings in writing.

All collected data is processed exclusively in an anonymized form.

If your child has had a bad experience or is simply afraid of the examination, please contact us in advance and describe the situation to us. We generally recommend that your child observe the examination and then decide whether they can participate. If your child does not participate in the examination, we ask that you obtain written confirmation from your dentist that your child attends regular preventive checkups.

Following our examination, we will notify you, as parents or legal guardians, in writing whether we recommend a visit and treatment at the dental office. No response is necessary in this case. However, if we detect serious or persistent dental damage, you will receive a letter containing a treatment certificate, which must be completed by the dental office and returned to us by you as soon as possible.

We know that it’s often not easy to find a prompt appointment at a dental office, and that treatments can often drag on and be challenging. In such cases, please be sure to contact us. It is important to us that your child grows up healthy and is able to develop properly. This includes having healthy teeth. Child protection is one of our responsibilities. If you do not cooperate, we are ultimately obligated to report the matter to the Department of Children and Family Services.

At some schools, students have the opportunity to participate in scientifically recognized fluoridation programs with their parents' consent.

The fluoride varnish treatment makes teeth more resistant to cavities. The fluoride varnish is applied to the large permanent molars once per school year as part of the routine dental screening. In addition, during the second half of the school year, your children will receive a tube of highly concentrated fluoride gel (currently elmex® gelée) to use at home to strengthen their tooth enamel on their own. We require your written consent for the fluoride varnish treatment. This form will be distributed to your child through the school.

Unfortunately, we do not provide dental treatment. Please contact our colleagues in private practice.