Few Dentists Offer Preventive Options To Adults
June 15, 2010

By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Using fluoride and sealants to prevent cavities isn't just for kids. Most dentists, however, are less likely to offer these options to adult patients.

Researchers sent a questionnaire to nearly 1,000 dentists; 534 responded. The 10 pages of questions covered several topics:

• How dentists diagnose dental caries (tooth decay)
• How often they recommend preventive measures, such as fluoride, in children
• How often they recommend preventive measures in adults
• How they decide on a treatment plan for tooth decay
• Sample cases of different types of tooth decay and how dentists would treat them in adults and in children

The dentists who responded were 85% male and 90% white. Most had practiced dentistry for 20 years or longer.

Dentists in the study were much less likely to suggest or offer dental sealants and in-office fluoride treatments to adult patients than to children.

About 84% of patients under 19 received in-office fluoride treatment. Only 36% of adult patients received this treatment. About 70% of young patients got sealants on their teeth. About 14% of adults did.

Dentists were about equally likely to suggest other preventive options to adults and children:

• Over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinses for home use
• Prescription rinses with a high level of fluoride for home use
• Sugarless or xylitol gum

Fluoride can be applied to teeth directly (topical) in both adults and children. It also can be taken in the form of pills or drops (systemic).

Dentists often prescribe fluoride pills or drops to young children whose adult teeth are still forming. They are recommended for children who do not get enough fluoride in their drinking water.

In 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report on fluoride. The report reviewed all research available at the time. It found that topical fluoride prevented or slowed cavities better than systemic fluoride in children and teens.

In 2006, the American Dental Association released guidelines on fluoride use. They suggested that topical fluorides can be useful for adults. The guidelines were based on the opinions or clinical experience of experts, not specific research.

The new study suggests that acceptance of fluoride treatments for adults is not growing among dentists. It found that recent dental school graduates were no more likely to offer topical fluoride to adults than dentists who graduated earlier.

The study did find that adults were offered fluoride treatments more often in two types of dental offices.

• Busier offices
• Offices that saw more patients with dental insurance

The research appears in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.