Evidence-practice gap for in-office fluoride application in a dental practice-based research network

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Preventive Dentistry

Background:

• In-office fluoride applications are a key preventive dental treatment.
• Understanding dentist recommendation patterns is crucial for optimizing oral health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dentists' current recommendations for in-office fluoride treatments.
• To identify dentist characteristics influencing these fluoride recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 282 dentists in Japan.
• Data were collected from 189 dentists (67% response rate) affiliated with the Japan Dental Practice-based Research Network (JDPBRN).

Main Results:

• 54% of dentists recommended in-office fluoride to over 50% of child patients (6-18 years).
• 15% recommended it to over 50% of adult patients (>18 years).
• Patient interest in caries prevention and dentist belief in caries risk assessment effectiveness were significant factors.

Conclusions:

• Significant variability exists in dentists' in-office fluoride recommendation practices.
• Patient engagement in preventive care and dentist's confidence in risk assessment tools influence fluoride prescription.