SCREENING AND INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT DENTAL CARIES IN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 5 Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in children in the US. According to the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, approximately 23% of children aged 2 to 5 years had dental caries in their primary teeth. Prevalence is higher in Mexican American children (33%) and non-Hispanic Black children (28%) than in non-Hispanic White children (18%). Dental caries in early childhood is associated with pain, loss of teeth, impaired growth, decreased weight gain, negative effects on quality of life, poor school performance, and future dental caries. Therefore, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care clinicians prescribe oral fluoride supplementation starting at age 6 months for children whose water supply is deficient in fluoride and apply fluoride varnish to the primary teeth of all children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption. The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to make a recommendation on primary care clinicians performing routine screening exams for cavities in children younger than 5. Dental caries (cavities) is the most common chronic disease in children in the United States. The USPSTF routinely makes recommendations about the effectiveness of preventive care services and this statement is consistent with its 2014 recommendation. Presented as a service to the community by Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL2010748 SCREENING AND INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT DENTAL CARIES IN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 5 Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in children in the US . According to the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey , approximately 23 % of children aged 2 to 5 years had dental caries in their primary teeth . Prevalence is higher in Mexican American children ( 33 % ) and non - Hispanic Black children ( 28 % ) than in non - Hispanic White children ( 18 % ) . Dental caries in early childhood is associated with pain , loss of teeth , impaired growth , decreased weight gain , negative effects on quality of life , poor school performance , and future dental caries . Therefore , the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ( USPSTF ) recommends that primary care clinicians prescribe oral fluoride supplementation starting at age 6 months for children whose water supply is deficient in fluoride and apply fluoride varnish to the primary teeth of all children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption . The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to make a recommendation on primary care clinicians performing routine screening exams for cavities in children younger than 5. Dental caries ( cavities ) is the most common chronic disease in children in the United States . The USPSTF routinely makes recommendations about the effectiveness of preventive care services and this statement is consistent with its 2014 recommendation . Presented as a service to the community by Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave. , Suite 130 , Downers Grove , IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM - CL2010748