Health insurance and socioeconomic disparities in childhood caries : impact on prevalence, treatment, and recurrence in a Swiss private practice

Article Article scientifique Article Health insurance and socioeconomic disparities in childhood caries : impact on prevalence, treatment, and recurrence in a Swiss private practice eng 2025-12-09 author Perez Garcia Tamara 745792 author Portenier Isabelle 711067 author Giannopoulou Catherine 23966 CUMD - Div. médecine dentaire régénérative & parodontologie - Communs (DPAR) author Zekeridou Alkisti 792319 CUMD - Clin. méd.dent.régénérative & parodontologie (CPAR) 16-26 10.61872/sdj-2025-04-02 41362237 2296-6498 https://www.swissdentaljournal.org/article/view/8934 Social inequalities are strongly associated with disparities in oral health, particularly in the development of childhood caries. This 4-year cohort study analyzed the impact of socioeconomic status (SES)- defined on the basis of the health insurance type- on the prevalence, treatment, and recurrence of dental caries in children. A total of 198 children (21 with social insurance, 177 with private insurance) were included. Caries prevalence at baseline was significantly higher in children with social insurance (95 % with >4 caries) compared to those with private insurance (29 % with >4 caries). No children with social insurance were caries-free, whereas 35 % of those with private insurance were caries-free. Pulpotomy and extraction needs were higher in the socially insured group, with 43 % requiring pulpotomies and 62 % requiring extractions, compared to 12 % and 10 %, respectively, in the privately insured group. General anesthesia (GA) use was more frequent in the socially insured group (72 % vs. 13 %), especially among younger children (100 % of 2-4 years old vs. 25 % in the private insurance group). In contrast, conventional anesthesia was more frequently used in the private insurance group (31 % vs. 14 %). Recall appointments were less frequent in the socially insured group, with 24% having no follow-up, compared to 12 % in the privately insured group. Caries recurrence was higher in the socially insured group (62 % had >3 new carious lesions) compared to the privately insured group, where 38 % of children had no new caries at follow-up. These findings highlight the impact of SES on caries burden, treatment modalities, and the importance of preventive measures for disadvantaged groups. French-speaking dentists Caries General anesthesia Socio-economic status Survey Dewey 617.6 206 Division de paradontologie 24P2 205 Division de cariologie et d'endodontie 24P1 false 360 Groupe Giannopoulou Catherine (médecine dentaire) 626 Swiss dental journal 135 4 a88b4697-a9f8-4777-9a58-20e678cc24fa Article (Published version) Public Health_insurance_and_socioeconomic_.pdf 444304 application/pdf CC BY-ND-4.0 abbc3f4887959a87760e06e95030bd1286462c469da7f55accb2d3a355b99c0b openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine dentaire / Département de médecine dentaire préventive et de premier recours / Division de paradontologie Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine dentaire / Département de médecine dentaire préventive et de premier recours / Division de cariologie et d'endodontie

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Health insurance and socioeconomic disparities in childhood caries : impact on prevalence, treatment, and recurrence in a Swiss private practice	Swiss dental journal			2025	11	37

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Portenier, Isabelle