April 30, 2024, 1:58 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Fluoride varnish hardens tooth enamel, which can ideally protect teeth from cavities. New is that now all children under six years old are entitled to it at the dentist’s office.
It is intended to protect baby teeth from cavities: Fluoride varnish for enamel hardening is now covered by insurance for all children under six years old. Twice per calendar half-year, they are entitled to have their teeth treated with it by a dentist. The Federal Joint Committee of doctors, health insurance companies, and clinics (G-BA) decided on this change in January of this year.1 With its publication in the Federal Gazette, it came into effect on April 24, 2024.
Follow the FITBOOK channel on WhatsApp now!
Previously, cavity risk played a role
Previously, the question of when a statutory health insurance would cover the application of fluoride varnish was linked to the risk of cavities. Only if children between the 34th month of life and the completed sixth year had a high risk of cavities was the fluoride varnish covered by insurance. Younger children–up to the 33rd month–were already entitled to it regardless of cavity risk. This is now different with the new decision: The entitlement exists regardless of whether the cavity risk is assessed as high or not.
Dental early detection examinations for children
The new entitlement to fluoride varnish for children under six years old was recorded in the “Guideline on Early Detection Examinations for Dental, Oral, and Jaw Diseases.”2 It is also noted there that the scope of services covered by insurance includes, among other things, that the dentist
- examines the oral cavity
- assesses the child’s cavity risk
- advises on dietary risks from sugary foods and drinks
- advises on proper oral hygiene
- recommends fluoride toothpaste if necessary
Further information, including on the entitlement to services for children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 18, can be found at the “Federal Joint Committee” under “Prophylaxis and Early Detection of Dental Diseases.”3
With material from dpa