A study conducted by the Institute of Dentistry at Rīga Stradiņš University has found alarming statistics regarding the dental health of 12-year-old children in Latvia. According to the findings, 71.9% of children in this age group have at least one deep carious lesion in their permanent teeth. This age was identified as a critical indicator for assessing children's oral health since most permanent teeth have developed by then. The research utilized the internationally recognized KPE index to track the number of damaged, extracted, or filled teeth in the children studied.

The results of the study reveal that the average severity of caries among children in Latvia is 2.5 teeth, which is more than double the European average of 1.1 teeth. This dramatic difference raises concerns about the state of dental care and health education in Latvia. Experts from the Institute of Dentistry emphasize that these statistics point to a significant public health issue which could have lasting implications for the children’s overall health and well-being, potentially leading to more serious health problems later in life.

Furthermore, the study indicates that 98.5% of the examined children showed signs of caries, which underscores the urgency for improved dental health initiatives and awareness programs targeted at parents and caregivers. Addressing these findings will be crucial in developing effective public health strategies to enhance children's oral health and prevent the escalation of dental issues in the future.