Croatia reports high dental caries rates in preschool children

Data from the National Preventive Program indicates that over 70 percent of preschool children in Croatia suffer from dental caries. While the situation for younger children remains critical, the oral health of twelve-year-olds has shown improvement. The KEP index, which measures decayed, filled, and extracted permanent teeth, decreased from 3.21 in 2016 to 2.43 in 2023.

The Croatian Ministry of Health attributes the improvement in older children to better access to preventive dental services, improved oral hygiene education, and increased awareness of regular check-ups. To address the high rate of caries in preschoolers, a National Oral Health Protection Preventive Program is planned for 2025–2027. This initiative includes measures such as the ‘Dental Passport’ program, supervised tooth brushing in kindergartens and schools, and the prevention of dental trauma.

Globally, the World Health Organization identifies dental caries as the most common non-communicable disease, affecting approximately 2.7 billion people. The WHO notes that the condition often begins in early childhood and disproportionately affects populations with limited access to healthcare, driven largely by high sugar consumption and inadequate oral hygiene.