The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care clinicians take steps to prevent cavities in young children, according to a final statement published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Roger Chou, MD, and colleagues examined 32 studies with 106,694 participants. In higher-risk populations or settings, topical fluoride compared with placebo or no topical fluoride was associated with reduced dental caries and a reduced likelihood for incident caries, with no increase in fluorosis risk. Based on the current evidence, the USPSTF concluded with moderate certainty that there is a moderate net benefit for oral fluoride supplementation at recommended doses for preventing future dental caries among children 6 months and older whose water supply is deficient in fluoride. The USPSTF also concluded with moderate certainty that for all children younger than 5, fluoride varnish application has a moderate net benefit for preventing future dental caries. “Primary care clinicians have an important role in helping to prevent cavities in children under 5 years old,” a task force member said in a statement.
