Primary Care Providers are encouraged to examine a child’s mouth especially the teeth during each wellcare visit.
When examining the teeth, providers should look for the following signs of dental caries:
- Cavities
- White spots on teeth
- Decay
- Poor oral hygiene
- Family dental history
- Eating/Drinking habits
Children with these risk factors should be referred to a dentist right away for treatment. All children should be treated with fluoride varnish by a medical provider, as well as referred to a dentist for regular checkups.
Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool
Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and endorsed by the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health, the Oral Health Risk Assessment (OHRA) Tool is easy to incorporate into your practice. The tool will help you to understand the risk factors, protective factors, and clinical findings that demonstrate risk of dental caries in young children.
Download the tool below:
– Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool and Guidance (English) (303 KB)
– Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool and Guidance (Spanish) (893 KB)
