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Implementing Fluoride Varnish Application into Primary Care Clinical Practice
Insights
Pediatric primary care clinics can provide preventive dental care. Fluoride varnish applications show a dose-dependent relationship in preventing dental caries in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Primary Care
- Preventive Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends fluoride varnish for children starting at 6 months.
- Pediatric primary care providers are crucial for delivering preventive dental care.
- Dental caries affect over 50% of children under 5 years old.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of fluoride varnish applications on dental caries in children under 5 years old within a pediatric primary care setting.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients under 5 years old.
- Analysis of fluoride varnish application records and subsequent development of dental caries.
Main Results:
- Over 1,900 fluoride applications were administered since November 2021.
- 96.8% of children receiving at least one fluoride application did not develop dental caries.
- 100% of children receiving three or more fluoride applications remained cavity-free.
Conclusions:
- Implementing new practice habits like fluoride varnish in primary care can be challenging.
- A dose-dependent relationship was observed between fluoride varnish application frequency and the prevention of dental caries.
- While not statistically significant, the results suggest a positive trend in caries reduction with increased fluoride varnish use.
Introduction:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended starting fluoride varnish applications to childen as early as 6 months of age, positioning pediatric primary care providers as a source of preventive care for dental caries, which impact more than half of children under age 5 years of age.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of patients in our pediatric primary care clinic was undertaken to determine the impact of fluoride varnish applications on dental caries in children aged <5 years of age.
Results:
Since November 2021, there have been 1,916 fluoride applications in the clinic. Of those children who received at least one fluoride application, 96.8% did not go on to have dental caries, whereas 100% with ≥ 3 applications did not develop cavities.
Discussion:
Implementing new primary care practice habits can be very difficult. While no statistical decrease in dental caries has been observed since implementing fluoride varnish, we observed a dose-dependent relationship between fluoride varnish and dental caries.
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