Screening and Preventive Interventions for Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Authors

Michael J. Barry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Wanda K. Nicholson, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Michael Silverstein, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
David Chelmow, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
Tumaini Rucker Coker, University of Washington, Seattle.
Esa M. Davis, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
Katrina E. Donahue, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Carlos Roberto Jaén, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
Li Li, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Gbenga Ogedegbe, New York University, New York.
Lori Pbert, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester.
Goutham Rao, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
John M. Ruiz, University of Arizona, Tucson.
James Stevermer, University of Missouri, Columbia.
Joel Tsevat, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
Sandra Millon Underwood, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
John B. Wong, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-7-2023

Journal

JAMA

Volume

330

Issue

17

DOI

10.1001/jama.2023.21408

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Oral health is fundamental to health and well-being across the lifespan. Oral health conditions affect the daily lives of school-age children and adolescents, leading to loss of more than 51 million school hours every year. Untreated oral health conditions in children can lead to serious infections and affect growth, development, and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review to evaluate screening and preventive interventions for oral health conditions in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. POPULATION: Asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for oral health conditions (eg, dental caries) performed by primary care clinicians in asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of preventive interventions for oral health conditions (eg, dental caries) performed by primary care clinicians in asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. RECOMMENDATIONS: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening performed by primary care clinicians for oral health conditions, including dental caries, in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. (I statement) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of preventive interventions performed by primary care clinicians for oral health conditions, including dental caries, in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. (I statement).

APA Citation

Barry, Michael J.; Nicholson, Wanda K.; Silverstein, Michael; Chelmow, David; Coker, Tumaini Rucker; Davis, Esa M.; Donahue, Katrina E.; Jaén, Carlos Roberto; Li, Li; Ogedegbe, Gbenga; Pbert, Lori; Rao, Goutham; Ruiz, John M.; Stevermer, James; Tsevat, Joel; Underwood, Sandra Millon; and Wong, John B., "Screening and Preventive Interventions for Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3836.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3836

Department

Prevention and Community Health