The Health Insurance Fund in Estonia will begin sending reminders to parents on their child's second birthday about scheduling their first dental visit.
Beginning in April, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) will initiate a reminder system aimed at parents of two-year-olds to encourage early dental visits for their children. The move is part of a broader effort to prevent dental cavities in young children and to reduce the necessity for anesthesia during dental treatments. Research indicates that while 71% of children aged 4-18 visited a dentist in 2025, there are alarming gaps in dental health among younger children and teenagers, which this program aims to address.
The initiative targets parents as their child reaches the age of two, noting that early engagement with dental care can help establish healthy oral hygiene habits. By prompting parents to book a dental appointment around this milestone, the Health Insurance Fund hopes to detect potential dental issues before they escalate into more serious problems requiring complicated interventions or pain management. This proactive approach underlines the importance of regular check-ups during formative years for maintaining dental health.
Tiia Zeigo, the dental services manager at the Health Insurance Fund, highlighted that younger children, particularly those entering school age, tend to have higher attendance rates at dental visits. In contrast, the participation rate among adolescents aged 14-19 drops to 62%. This stark difference in engagement illustrates the urgent need for targeted reminders and incentives for dental visits among younger populations, helping to ensure comprehensive dental health coverage throughout childhood and adolescence.
