Physicians and caries prevention. Results of a physician survey on preventive dental services
H. C. Gift, B. Milton and V. Walsh
Physicians are aware of and support selected caries preventive techniques
involving fluoride, particularly community water fluoridation, fluoridating
school water supplies, and the prescription of dietary fluoride
supplements. Physicians are generally less informed about the relative
worth of other caries preventive measures. The role of the practicing
physician in the provision of caries prevention methods is a very active
one, with physicians prescribing fluoride supplements, counseling on diet,
and providing oral hygiene education. Children would be better served in
caries prevention if the interest and initiative of the medical
practitioners were encouraged and current information was made available to
them. These findings represent the preliminary analysis of a mailed survey
to a stratified, systematic sample of 2,000 physicians who treat child
patients in the nation.
