Fluoride Varnish Application for Cavity Prevention in the Primary Care Setting

Oral health has a direct correlation to overall wellbeing. Oral health is linked to diabetic, heart, brain, and pregnancy health. However, “100 million people in the United States receive care from a physician annually, but not a dentist”.1 Primary care providers play an integral role in educating patients about oral health and guiding patients to resources, including dental facilities. The purpose of this study is to assess the precepted understanding of importance, comfortability, and willingness of students in primary care to incorporate oral screenings and oral health education into patient care.

Methods

Pre/posttest survey. Participants: 25. Data was collected using QR codes and assimilated in Qualtrics. A 4-question pretest survey was disseminated using a QR code and Qualtrix. Next, a team of dental and dental hygiene students, and physician assistant faculty presented topics to physician assistant students. The presentation was based on American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) and American Dental Association guidelines and included oral screening, caries etiology and prevention, oral hygiene instruction (OHI), and preventive care. A hands-on lab allowed for fluoride varnish application to tooth models and OHI role play. A 6-question posttest survey was implemented, including inquiry about interest in oral health topics.

Results
At baseline 96% of participants were unaware of the APA fluoride guidelines for pediatric patients through age five and 32% of participants indicated comfortability assessing the oral cavity for caries for purposes of referral. Post survey results indicated 39% recognized AAP fluoride recommendations, 76% of PA students felt confident in their role in the referral process to DDS and 80% they felt more confident in their role as a primary care provider to integrate general oral health education into patient practice. 100% of the group planned to consider fluoride varnish application for pediatric patients. The most requested topics were pregnancy and oral health (21.54%) and oncology and oral health (18.46%).

Primary care students are interested in learning about oral health’s role in overall wellness and how to integrate oral health into patient care. Primary care providers could provide early caries risk intervention such as fluoride varnish and fundamental oral care education to instill habits that promote lifetime wellness and healthy dentition. Following current evidence-based guidelines for oral health and fluoride, medical and dental professionals can work interprofessionally to ensure that patients have both a dental and primary care home.
1.Molayem S. Dentists and doctors need to play on the same team. Nature.