Dental Caries in Adults

A review of the causes, presentations, and management of patients with dental caries with an emphasis on what primary care clinicians can do the help patients until they can see a dentist. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Dental caries (tooth decay or cavities) refers to demineralization of teeth, which occurs after bacteria metabolize dietary carbohydrates into acid. More than 90% of US adults experience caries and 26% have untreated caries.

Author/s:

Elizabeth Alpert, Hugh Silk, Lisa Simon

Screening and Interventions to Prevent Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Saige Blanchard — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

January 3, 2022

Journal/Publication:

Journal of the American Medical Association

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

December 7, 2021

Issue:

Volume:

326

Pages:

2172-2178

URL:

Screening and Interventions to Prevent Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2021.20007

Keywords

MeSH

USPSTF recommendations regarding the role of primary care clinicians in the prevention of dental caries in children. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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IMPORTANCE Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in children in the US.
According to the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, approximately
23% of children aged 2 to 5 years had dental caries in their primary teeth. Prevalence is higher
in Mexican American children (33%) and non-Hispanic Black children (28%) than in
non-Hispanic White children (18%). Dental caries in early childhood is associated with pain,
loss of teeth, impaired growth, decreased weight gain, negative effects on quality of life, poor
school performance, and future dental caries.
OBJECTIVE To update its 2014 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review on screening and interventions to prevent
dental caries in children younger than 5 years.
POPULATION Asymptomatic children younger than 5 years.
EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that there is a
moderate net benefit of preventing future dental caries with oral fluoride supplementation at
recommended doses in children 6 months or older whose water supply is deficient in
fluoride. The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that there is a moderate net benefit
of preventing future dental caries with fluoride varnish application in all children younger
than 5 years. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient on performing routine
oral screening examinations for dental caries by primary care clinicians in children younger
than 5 years and that the balance of benefits and harms of screening cannot be determined.
RECOMMENDATION The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians prescribe oral fluoride
supplementation starting at age 6 months for children whose water supply is deficient in
fluoride. (B recommendation) The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians apply
fluoride varnish to the primary teeth of all infants and children starting at the age of primary
tooth eruption. (B recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is
insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening examinations for
dental caries performed by primary care clinicians in children younger than 5 years. (I statement)

Author/s:

US Preventative Services task Force