Why is Risk Assessment Important?
Oral health risk assessments should begin at six months of age, just before the first tooth emerges.
Many clinicians find that, especially when starting to perform risk assessments, using a formal tool aids in oral health risk determination, targeting of anticipatory guidance, and in documentation.
Fluoride varnish is recommended for all children ages 5 and under, independent of caries risk. A risk assessment tool may help you decide which children would benefit from more frequent varnish application, as the American Academy of Pediatrics 2020 guidelines recommend fluoride varnish twice annually for all children and quarterly (4 times annually) for children at high-risk for caries.
References
Clark MB, Keels MA, Slayton RL; AAP Section on Oral Health. Fluoride use in caries prevention in the primary care setting. SECTION ON ORAL HEALTH. Pediatrics. 2020; 146Â (6).
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Prevention of Dental Caries in Children from Birth Through Age 5 Years. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Prevention of Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years: Screening and Interventions. December 07, 2021. View here.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Council on Clinical Affairs. Guideline on Caries-risk assessment and Management for Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Revised 2013. REFERENCE MANUAL V 35 (6): 124-130.