Incorporating caries prevention into the well-child visit in a family medicine residency.
BACKGROUND
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that topical fluoride application may prevent early childhood caries in high-risk populations. Yet, there are few published descriptions of caries prevention curricula for primary care residents.


METHODS
In 2003, the New Hampshire-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency hired a dentist and a hygienist to develop and implement a didactic and practical oral health curriculum.


RESULTS
Over 2 years, faculty and residents competent with oral health screening and fluoride varnish application rose from 0% to 69% to 100%. In the same period, the percentage of well-child visits (ages 6 months to 3 years) with documented oral health screening and fluoride varnish application rose from 0% to 80% to 91%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our successful model of teaching early childhood caries prevention services within the well-child visit could be replicated by other residency programs. Programs may need start-up funding for initial training by dental professionals.
Wawrzyniak
Marie N
MN
Capital Region Family Health Center, Concord, NH, USA.
Boulter
Suzanne
S
Giotopoulos
Christos
C
Zivitski
Janice
J
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000379:methods*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007396:Internship and Residency; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009513:New Hampshire; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012923:Social Class
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical