Methods for caries prevention in adults among dentists from a brazilian community

• Main Authors: Elaine Tagliaferro (Author), Silvio Rocha Correa da Silva (Author), Fernanda Lopez Rosell (Author), Aylton Valsecki Junior (Author), Joseph L. Riley III (Author), Gregg H. Gilbert (Author), Valeria Veiga Gordan (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 2020-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.20396/bjos.v19i0.8656224; 1677-3225
• Keywords: Dental caries; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Preventive dentistry; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences, Vol 19 (2020)

Little is known about dental practice patterns of caries prevention in adults among Brazilian dentists. Aim: To quantify procedures used for caries prevention for adult patients among dentists from a Brazilian community. Methods: Dentists (n=197) who reported that at least 10% of their patients are more than 18 years old participated in the first Brazilian study that used a translated version of the "Assessment of Caries Diagnosis and Caries Treatment" from the U.S. National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. A questionnaire about characteristics of their practice and patient population were also completed by the dentists. Generalized linear regression models and a hierarchal clustering procedure were used (p<0.05). Results: In-office fluoride application was the preventive method most often reported. The main predictors for recommending some preventive agent were: female dentist (dental sealant; in-office fluoride; non-prescription fluoride) and percentage of patients interested in caries prevention (dental sealant; in-office fluoride; non-prescription fluoride). Other predictors included private practice (dental sealant), percentage of patients 65 years or older (in-office fluoride), graduation from a private dental school (non-prescription fluoride), years since dental school graduation (chlorhexidine rinse) and using a preventive method (recommending sealant/fluoride/chlorhexidine rinse/sugarless, xylitol gum). Cluster analysis showed that dentists in the largest subgroup seldom used any of the preventive agents. Conclusion: Dentists most often reported in-office fluoride as a method for caries prevention in adults. Some practitioner, practice and patients' characteristics were positively associated with more-frequent use of a preventive agent.