title: Use of caries-preventive agents in children: findings from the dental practice-based research network.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Scientific evidence supports the application of caries-preventive agents in children and adolescents, and this knowledge must be applied to the practice of dentistry. There are few multi-region data that allow for comparisons of practice patterns between types of dental practices and geographical regions. The objective of the present study was to characterise the use of specific caries-preventive agents for paediatric patients in a large multi-region sample of practising clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study surveyed clinicians from the Dental Practice-based Research Network who perform restorative dentistry in their practices. The survey consisted of a questionnaire that presented a range of questions about caries risk assessment and the use of preventive techniques in children aged 6 to 18 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dental sealants (69%) or in-office fluoride (82%) were the most commonly used caries-preventive agents of the caries preventive regimens. The recommendation of at-home caries-preventive agents ranged from 36% to 7%,with the most commonly used agent being non-prescription fluoride rinse. Clinicians who practised in a large group practice model and clinicians who come from the Scandinavian region use caries risk assessment more frequently compared to clinicians who come from regions that had, predominantly, clinicians in private practice. Whether or not clinicians used caries risk assessment with their paediatric patients was poorly correlated with the likelihood of actually using caries-preventive treatments on patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although clinicians reported the use of some form of in-office caries-preventive agent, there was considerable variability across practices. These differences could represent a lack of consensus across practising clinicians about the benefits of caries-preventive agents, or a function of differing financial incentives, or patient pools with differing levels of overall caries risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Joshua S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: D Brad
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rindal
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fellows
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Qvist
authors.forename: Gregg H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Valeria V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gordan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006124:Group Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011331:Private Practice; D011364:Professional Practice; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002638:Chewing Gum; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D009067:Mouthwashes; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D005459:Fluorides; D002710:Chlorhexidine