[A PhD completed. Preventing dental caries through collaboration of healthy child programmes and oral healthcare providers].

Despite measures, caries in children continues to be a problem. Caries is seen more often in young children with a low socio-economic status than in children with a high socio-economic status. The aim of this PhD research was to find ways to improve preventive oral healthcare for all children. This was achieved by collecting scientific evidence in 3 research components: targeting, effectiveness and implementation of preventive oral healthcare. Analysis of the data revealed that, despite a system fully covering oral healthcare for children, there still are disparities in children s oral health according to socio-economic status. Furthermore, 2 interventions to improve oral health in children were seen to have positive effects: a short, informative, digital video on oral care routines for parents, and doctors at child health clinics referring parents of infants to oral healthcare providers for a first appointment. Finally, the research revealed that timely visits to a dentist and collaboration between youth healthcare and oral healthcare providers can help to improve early childhood oral health.