In order to provide optimal oral health for each patient at Pediatric Dentistry of Burke caries risk assessment is completed for each child at each visit. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) the following benefits to risk assessment*.
- Fosters the treatment of the disease process instead of treating the outcome of the disease.
- Gives an understanding of the disease factors for a specific patient and aids in individualizing preventive discussions.
- Individualizes, selects, and determines frequency of preventative and restorative treatment for a patient.
- Anticipates caries progression or stabilization.
The caries risk assessment tool considers many factors including, but not limited to, diet, fluoride exposure, a susceptible host, and microflora that interplay with a variety of social, cultural, and behavioral factors.
A detailed explanation of these factors and how they relate to the individual patient are part of each examination at Pediatric Dentistry of Burke. Please contact us for an appointment so that we may use this powerful tool to your child’s benefit.
*AAPD Reference Manual, Best
Practices. V 40/ No 6 pgs 205-212
http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/BP_CariesRiskAssessment.pdf