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Dental Care for Asylum-Seekers in Germany: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study

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  • Anna Freiberg

    (Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Andreas Wienke

    (Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Lena Bauer

    (Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Andreas Niedermaier

    (Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Amand Führer

    (Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics (IMEBI), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany)

Abstract

Background: The growing immigration to Germany led to more patients whose medical needs are divergent from those of the domestic population. In the field of dental health care there is a debate about how well the German health system is able to meet the resulting challenges. Data on asylum-seekers’ dental health is scarce. This work is intended to reduce this data gap. Methods: We conducted this retrospective observational study in Halle (Saale), Germany. We included all persons who were registered with the social welfare office (SWO) in 2015 and received dental treatments. From the medical records, we derived information such as complaints, diagnoses, and treatments. Results: Out of 4107 asylum-seekers, the SWO received a bill for 568 people. On average, there were 1.44 treatment cases (95%-CI: 1.34–1.55) and 2.53 contacts with the dentist per patient (95%-CI: 2.33–2.74). Among those, the majority went to the dentist because of localized (43.2%, 95%-CI: 38.7–47.7) and non-localized pain (32.0%, 95%-CI: 27.8–36.2). The most widespread diagnosis was caries ( n = 469, 98.7%, 95%-CI: 97.7–99.7). Conclusion: The utilization of dental care is lower among asylum-seekers than among regularly insured patients. We assume that the low prevalence rates in our data indicate existing access barriers to the German health care system.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Freiberg & Andreas Wienke & Lena Bauer & Andreas Niedermaier & Amand Führer, 2020. "Dental Care for Asylum-Seekers in Germany: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2672-:d:345128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Natalia Mikhailichenko & Kimitoshi Yagami & Jeng-Yuan Chiou & Jing-Yang Huang & Yu-Hsun Wang & James Cheng-Chung Wei & Te-Jen Lai, 2019. "Exposure to Dental Filling Materials and the Risk of Dementia: A Population-Based Nested Case Control Study in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Mary Ellen Macdonald & Mark T. Keboa & Nazik M. Nurelhuda & Herenia P. Lawrence & Franco Carnevale & Mary McNally & Sonica Singhal & Khady Ka & Belinda Nicolau, 2019. "The Oral Health of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Canada: A Mixed Methods Study Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Green, M., 2017. "Language barriers and health of syrian refugees in Germany," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(4), pages 486-486.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sneha Bhusari & Chiamaka Ilechukwu & Abdelrahman Elwishahy & Olaf Horstick & Volker Winkler & Khatia Antia, 2020. "Dental Caries among Refugees in Europe: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Stefano Cianetti & Chiara Valenti & Massimiliano Orso & Giuseppe Lomurno & Michele Nardone & Anna Palma Lomurno & Stefano Pagano & Guido Lombardo, 2021. "Systematic Review of the Literature on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Dorina Lauritano & Giulia Moreo & Francesco Carinci & Vincenzo Campanella & Fedora Della Vella & Massimo Petruzzi, 2021. "Oral Health Status among Migrants from Middle- and Low-Income Countries to Europe: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-37, November.

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