Key Points
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Preventive dental care for young children should be based on best evidence and delivered in a consistent manner throughout the NHS.
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To help GDPs deliver preventive care in a consistent, evidence-based way, the current scientific evidence on fluoride use needs converting into clear, easy to follow recommendations for children of differing ages and caries risk.
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To help GDPs deliver preventive advice in a consistent way, an easy to follow, evidence-based hierarchy of specific diet and oral hygiene messages needs to be developed.
Abstract
Objective To increase understanding about the content of preventive advice and care offered by general dental practitioners to young children.
Design Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
Setting The North West of England. Interviews took place between March and September 2003.
Subjects and methods Ninety-three general dental practitioners practising within the general dental service were interviewed about the care they provide to young children. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a constant comparative method.
Results Preventive advice given to parents of young children is usually about sugar consumption and tooth brushing behaviour but the emphasis and specific messages provided varies among general dental practitioners. Use of fluorides varied considerably, suggesting that some dentists either have reservations or are unclear about the appropriate use of fluorides. The study indicates important variation in the content of preventive care.
Conclusion There is important variation in the approach of general dental practitioners to the core activity of preventing caries in young children and some views expressed are not supported by the evidence base.
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Croucher, R. GDPs' caries prevention advice for young children. Br Dent J 202, 148–149 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.115
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.115
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