Preventing decay in children: dare we risk the 'risk assessment' model in practice?
Encouraging dental prevention seems like a logical approach given that dental decay is a preventable disease and while the 2006 dental contract provides preventive opportunities, there is confusion about the best approach to the prevention of decay in those children that attend their dentist. Should we provide prevention for all children attending their dentist (the population approach) or should we target those children who are at greatest risk (risk assessment approach)?
Milsom
K M
KM
Oral Health Unit, National Primary Care R&D Centre, Halton & St Helens Primary Care Trust, University ofManchester, UK. keith.milsom@hsthpct.nhs.uk
Tickle
M
M
D002648:Child; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003815:Dentists; D018450:Disease Progression; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D005544:Forecasting; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors