title: Dissemination and use of the children's dental pass in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children's Dental Passes (CDP) are widely used in Germany for documentation and motivation of oral health in children, but have not been evaluated at all. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the distribution, use and acceptance of the CDP in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MWP), Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected with a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to all registered dental offices in MWP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effective response rate to the survey was 18%, representing 21% of all dentists in the state. Almost all dentists (91%) considered the information contained in the CDP important. Additionally, 81% of dentists provided their patients with a CDP and 78% recorded the oral health status of their patients in it. 54% confirmed that the CDP's implementation has improved the consultation behaviour of young children's parents. 71% of dentists felt that the behaviour of their young patients during treatment has improved after the implementation of the CDP. Likewise, 61% of the respondents thought that oral health among children has improved after the introduction of the CDP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CDP can be considered an important element for health promotion that offers a comprehensive approach to early prevention of oral health diseases of young children in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
authors.forename: Marina A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.forename: Ausra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romasew
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Splieth
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003770:Dental Offices; D003792:Dental Records; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D011331:Private Practice