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Exploring the content of the advice provided by general dental practitioners to help prevent caries in young children.

Threlfall AG, Milsom KM, Hunt CM, Tickle M, Blinkhorn AS

Chester & Halton Community Trust, Oral Health Unit, National Primary Care R&D Centre, School of Dentistry, University of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester, UK.

OBJECTIVES: To increase understanding about the content of preventive advice and care offered by general dental practitioners to young children. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.Setting The North West of England. Interviews took place between March and September 2003. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three general dental practitioners practising within the general dental service were interviewed about the care they provide to young children. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a constant comparative method. RESULTS: Preventive advice given to parents of young children is usually about sugar consumption and tooth brushing behaviour but the emphasis and specific messages provided varies among general dental practitioners. Use of fluorides varied considerably, suggesting that some dentists either have reservations or are unclear about the appropriate use of fluorides. The study indicates important variation in the content of preventive care. CONCLUSION: There is important variation in the approach of general dental practitioners to the core activity of preventing caries in young children and some views expressed are not supported by the evidence base.

Published 12 February 2007 in Br Dent J, 202(3): E9; discussion 148-9.
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