Jupiterimages/Photos.com Oral health risk assessments should begin at six months of age, just before the first tooth erupts. Many clinicians find that, especially when starting to perform risk assessments, using a formal tool aids in oral health risk determination, targeting of anticipatory guidance, and in documentation. Fluoride varnish is recommended for all children ages 5 […]
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Disease Level Referral? Treatment More Info Diet/OH Counseling Fluoride Varnish Surgical Procedure Click for more Arrest Lesions Arrest Lesions if no restoration required Fluoride releasing restorative materials URGENT! Prevent new lesions Comprehensive care (e.g. extraction, crowns) URGENT! Prevent new lesions Comprehensive care (e.g. extraction, crowns)
Screen, Advise, & Advocate! Many areas lack dental providers, creating an additional reason for primary care providers to address oral health. The medical home is the dental home until primary care clinicians can help patients find appropriate dental care. Primary care clinicians should: Counsel patients on oral health promotion Screen for oral disease and facilitate appropriate referrals
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Medical home is an ideal site to: Monitor conditions such as diabetes, which affect both oral and systemic health directly and also indirectly via the medications used in treatment. Evaluate and initially manage oral emergencies. Apply fluoride varnish for prevention of caries, particularly in locations where dental services are not available. Application of Fluoride Varnish
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About Us Smiles For Life produces educational resources to ensure the integration of oral health and primary care. Our History Smiles for Life: A National Oral Health Curriculum was originally developed in 2005 by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Group on Oral Health. It consisted of four modules, and was based in part
PowerPoint (.ppt) Slide Sorter Tool The PowerPoint Slide Sorter is intended to allow educators to customize presentations by downloading only select slides from one or more modules. If you wish to view all the slides in a course and only select slides of interest, click a module below to begin. You are able to download
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Caries can occur on the crown of the tooth (coronal caries) or the root surface of the tooth (root caries). Over 50% of the elder population who have natural teeth are affected by caries. Individuals over 60 years of age are twice as likely to experience root caries as those 30 years of age. Risk Factors
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Fluoride is a very safe and effective agent. However, care needs to be taken to minimize the risk of fluorosis. Chronic excessive fluoride exposure to developing teeth can cause white mottling of the tooth surfaces. Mainly a cosmetic effect Prevalence & Risk Factors Prevalence of fluorosis (mostly mild or very mild) in the United States
Preventive strategies enhance protective factors and reduce pathologic factors. Disease can be halted and early lesions remineralized. Caries & Demineralization Caries is a dynamic process involving many protective factors and pathologic factors. Teeth undergo cycles of demineralization and remineralization. To help prevent or reverse the caries process and tip the balance towards “no caries,” we can:
Document Protective Factors Protective factors decrease overall caries risk and include: Having a dental home Tooth brushing Fluoride use: Toothpaste Varnish Supplements For more complete description of each protective factor, click here
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