Primary Prevention of Dental Caries

Dental caries is an infectious transmissible disease with children being at the highest risk, primary prevention can reduce this risk. Primary prevention in dentistry at school level is usually considered to be dental health education & behavioral modification, fluoridated water supplies, professional fluoride treatments, and pit and fissure sealants. School-based oral health education enable children to make informed health-related choices as well as precipitate a health-enhancing social environment. It is more likely to be successful and/or sustainable if they: link to the home, actively involve parents and teachers in primary school interventions, create supportive environments (for example, increase the availability of fruit and vegetables and promote access to healthy food and drink) are integrated with other health issues. Fluoridated water supplies have been proven to be cost-effective and pit and fissure sealants & topical fluoride application should be opted to target children from low socio-economic backgrounds or in population with high caries prevalence.