Fluoride Varnish Application in the Primary Care Setting. A Clinical Study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Low-income children face significant disparities in oral health.
• Early intervention with fluoride varnish (FV) is crucial for preventing childhood caries.
• Primary health settings offer a potential venue for widespread FV application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and sustainability of a fluoride varnish (FV) program in primary care for young, low-income children.
• To assess the feasibility of tracking medical care utilization in this pediatric population for future research.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 12,067 children aged 1-5, insured by a government program, received care between July 2010 and April 2012.
• Data collected included demographics, clinic encounters, FV eligibility, and receipt.
• Medical care utilization (primary, specialty, urgent care, hospitalizations) was tracked to assess data feasibility.

Main Results:

• 85% of eligible children received fluoride varnish (FV), with higher rates in younger children and Black children.
• Implementation and sustainability of the FV program in primary care were demonstrated.
• Tracking medical care utilization was feasible, with primary care visit and hospitalization data available for a larger percentage of the cohort.

Conclusions:

• Fluoride varnish (FV) programs can be effectively introduced and sustained within primary health care settings.
• Long-term follow-up of such cohorts is achievable, enabling future studies on oral health prevention.
• Further research is warranted to capture the health and cost benefits of preventive oral health interventions.