Are Tooth Decay Prevention Visits in Primary Care Before Age 2 Years Effective?

In this issue of JAMA Pediatrics, Blackburn and colleagues¹ address whether preventive dental care for children younger than 2 years by primary care professionals, including pediatricians and dentists, reduces subsequent need for fillings and other treatments for tooth decay. They use data for children enrolled in Alabama Medicaid from 2008 to 2012. The American Academy of Pediatrics² and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that risk assessment and preventive care should begin with the eruption of the first baby tooth. The main preventive service recommended is the topical application of fluoride varnish every 3 to 6 months.^3,4