Dental shortages lead to ‘unfortunate’ wait times for children and young adults

At least 35,000 children and young adults in Denmark are currently waiting longer than recommended for public dental care appointments, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

Six-year-old Philina Kjær was originally scheduled for a dental check-up in November but only received treatment this month. The delay likely allowed a small cavity to worsen, requiring more than just a sealant, said Janne Nielsen, acting chief dentist in Esbjerg Municipality.

“She now has a cavity that probably wasn’t there last time,” Nielsen said. “When we fall behind and have waiting lists for examinations, cavities grow larger before we see them. They may even develop toothaches before we can treat them.”

Esbjerg is not alone in facing delays. Across Denmark’s five largest cities, over 38,000 children and young adults are waiting beyond recommended intervals for dental care. The shortages stem from a lack of dentists and increased demand after the public system expanded to include 18- to 21-year-olds four years ago, adding nearly 300,000 new patients nationwide.

Stine Brems Mørcholdt, chair of the Danish Dental Association’s public sector dentists, called the situation alarming. “We struggle to recruit dentists in municipal dental care in many parts of the country,” she said. “We cannot offer patients adequate treatment when they need it.”

However, Esben Boeskov Øzhayat, a professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Dental Institute, downplayed concerns, noting Denmark’s strong overall dental health. “It’s unfortunate if people wait longer than recommended, but our teeth are in such good condition that this may not be the biggest problem in the world,” he said.

Under current guidelines, children and young adults up to age 22 receive free dental care, with check-up intervals based on individual risk assessments—ranging from every six months for high-risk patients to every 12–24 months for those with healthy teeth.