A Finnish mother faces criminal charges for allegedly neglecting her young daughters' dental health so severely that their baby teeth required extensive treatment. Prosecutors in the Pirkanmaa District Court have charged the mother of four with four counts of assault involving two of her children. The case began when a dentist discovered the girls' alarming dental condition and reported the situation to authorities.
The younger daughter showed clear cavities requiring fillings in three baby teeth as early as 2021. Her older sister, then just three years old, had her first cavities detected in 2018. By July 2022, both girls required emergency dental visits due to tooth pain. The older child needed fillings in three teeth, while the younger had developed a new deep cavity.
Subsequent examinations at Tays' oral and maxillofacial department revealed the younger daughter required extensive dental work. Dentists found cavities in eight teeth, with two requiring extraction. One tooth had already become infected. The mother had canceled multiple dental appointments before these events, causing significant delays in the girls' treatment.
Prosecutors are seeking punishment primarily for assault charges, with aggravated bodily injury as an alternative charge. The mother denies all allegations and claims the accusations contain factual errors. She disputes neglecting her children's tooth brushing and states family workers have observed morning and evening dental hygiene routines.
The mother explains her children previously brushed their teeth independently using manual toothbrushes. She says she used YouTube videos to guide her active children through proper brushing techniques. She began checking her children's brushing results after receiving instructions from Tays hospital, she claims.
Dental appointment cancellations occurred due to illnesses, according to the mother. She notes some appointments were made by the children's father, with whom she has unfortunately contentious relations. This situation has complicated managing the children's healthcare matters, she states.
Additional assault charges allege the mother pulled her daughters' hair. The mother suggests her children tell father-pleasing lies about her while visiting their father. She believes they do this to gain approval and get their way.
Prosecutors demand substantial fines for the mother's actions. The Pirkanmaa District Court will deliver its verdict later.
This case highlights Finland's strict child protection laws and mandatory reporting requirements for healthcare professionals. Dentists and medical staff must alert authorities when they suspect child neglect. The situation demonstrates how dental health can become a child welfare issue when neglect leads to serious medical consequences.
Finland's comprehensive public healthcare system typically provides regular dental checkups for children. The case raises questions about how such severe dental problems could develop within this system. The court must determine whether this represents intentional neglect or resulted from broader family challenges.
Child dental neglect cases remain relatively rare in Nordic countries, where preventive healthcare is strongly emphasized. The outcome could influence how similar cases are handled across Finland's social and legal systems.