Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Dental Caries in Primary Health Care Settings

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic noncommunicable diseases among children in the US and the world and one of the most common unmet health care needs of underserved children. This costly and burdensome disease can result in severe pain, failure to thrive, and poor school performance, which have consequences for a child’s short- and long-term future. Dental caries can start in early childhood and progress throughout the life course, despite being preventable. Many of the behaviors that cause dental caries are established early in life, which makes early childhood a critical period to establish effective healthy practices and start preventive interventions. To address these challenges, primary care clinicians have been called on to assess the oral health of their patients; provide anticipatory guidance and counseling about oral hygiene, fluoride exposures, and diet; assist with referrals; and apply fluoride varnish.