The Chamber wants better oral care for children in deprived areas

The House of Representatives wants children from risk groups, such as families with a low income and/or from deprived neighborhoods, to receive better oral care. The cabinet must arrange for oral care coaches to be installed at all clinics in disadvantaged neighborhoods, the House decided on Tuesday through a motion by the PvdA and the four coalition parties.

Although oral care for children is insured, many children between the ages of two and four do not go to the dentist, the groups say. Parents with a low income often ignore the dentist themselves and experience this as a barrier to taking their children to the dentist, says the initiator of the motion, PvdA MP Mohammed Mohandis. 'Shame plays a role and the fear of ending up in the dentist's chair with all the associated costs.'

Given the positive experiences with the use of oral coaches at twelve child health clinics and pilot projects in Heerlen and Tilburg, the PvdA and the coalition want to expand this to all child health clinics in disadvantaged neighborhoods. A parliamentary majority wants that too. Because almost all children come to a clinic, 'this is an excellent environment to reach children at risk', Mohandis explains. 'The individual guidance is very accessible, accessible and free for parents.'

Read more about the motion