The coronavirus pandemic has led to considerable challenges in the education and healthcare system. This study analysed the impact of the pandemic on the implementation of group prophylactic measures in German kindergartens. The aim was to quantify the changes caused by the pandemic and identify possible influencing factors. The data was collected through a nationwide survey of 126 kindergartens, which recorded the implementation of defined measures before, during and after the pandemic. The analysis was based on descriptive statistics and the McNemar test to analyse temporal changes as well as correlations to identify structural influencing factors such as staffing ratios. The results show significant losses in the implementation of group prophylactic measures during the pandemic, which to a large extent have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. The staffing ratio of the facilities often played a decisive role in internal measures (e.g. joint tooth brushing), while external measures (e.g. visits to the dentist) recovered significantly better, although these even came to a complete standstill. The results highlight the urgency of making prevention programmes more resilient to crisis situations. Investment in human resources, the development of alternative concepts and the introduction of uniform standards could help to strengthen preventive measures in the long term and promote children’s dental health in the long term.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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