Free dental sealants now available for children aged 9

The new National Program for Prevention of Oral Diseases in Children in Bulgaria for the 2026-2030 period is expanding its scope to include children aged 6 to 9, according to the Ministry of Health.

Previously, prevention through the application of sealants—a special protective coating that “seals” the tooth and protects it from decay—covered children up to 8 years of age. The health ministry believes that expanding the age group will provide longer and more effective protection for the first permanent teeth during the period when the risk of developing cavities is highest.

Data from national epidemiological surveys on oral health conducted in 2011 and supplemented by a 2020 study show a high prevalence of dental caries among children in the country. According to the results, over 70% of children aged 5-6 have at least one cavity. Among older children, this percentage increases, with over 90% of adolescents up to age 18 having decayed teeth, and one in four 18-year-olds having already lost at least one permanent tooth due to complications from caries.

During the new program period, a national epidemiological study will be conducted, covering over 90% of children who have already received sealants under the program in seven regions of the country: Sofia City, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Pernik, Shumen, and Pazardzhik. Children will be examined in three age groups—8, 9, and 10 years old—with the aim of determining the effectiveness of sealing and the frequency of cavities following the preventive measures.

Public tenders for the activities under the National Program are forthcoming, the Ministry of Health added. They also noted that the program includes new measures aimed at establishing lasting habits for maintaining good oral health. For the first time, organized oral hygiene activities will be introduced in kindergartens so that children can acquire proper habits from an early age.

In addition, cross-sectoral measures are planned to reduce the sugar content in food and beverages intended for children by at least 5%, as excessive sugar consumption is among the primary causes of tooth decay.

During its session, the Council of Ministers approved the new program period of the National Program for Prevention of Oral Diseases in Children for 2026-2030. The full text of the program is published on the Ministry of Health website here.