Caries preventive services in the Northwest PRECEDENT dental PBRN

Methods: Data on the preventive treatments received (prophylaxis, fluoride varnish or gel, and sealant in molar or premolar) and the occurrence of one or more new caries lesions within the past 12 months were collected in an oral health survey with a systematic random sample of patients (n=1470 aged 3-92 years) visiting Northwest PRECEDENT general dentists (n=77). GEE logistic regression models stratified by age (1-17, 18-64, and 65+ years old) were used to investigate the association between the preventive procedures and the presence of a new caries lesion in the past 12 months.

Results: The percent of patients in age category 1-17 / 18-64 / 65+ years old receiving each preventive treatment varied as follows: 95%/85%/79% for prophylaxis, 89%/21%/17% for fluoride, and 27%/1%/0% for sealant. For the age group 1-17 years, males had 1.9 [95% Confidence interval(CI)=1.1-3.2] times the odds of having a new caries lesion than females in the past 12 months, and patients receiving a sealant had 2.6 (95% CI=1.3-5.1) times the odds of having a new caries lesion. In the age group 18-64 years, receiving a prophylaxis in the past 12 months was significantly associated with lower odds for having a new lesion (odds ratio = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38-0.85).

Conclusions: This updated study reports that aside from prophylaxis, which more than 85% of the patients had received, about 30% of the patients overall received preventive services consisting of either sealants or some type of fluoride treatment in the Northwest PRECEDENT network.

Funding: Submitted on behalf of the Northwest PRECEDENT network, with support from: NIDCR grants DE016750 and DE016752.