Oral Health Screening in Primary Care Recommendations

There is not yet enough evidence to adequately assess the benefit-harm balance of oral health screening and preventive interventions for adults and children aged 5 years and older, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The I draft recommendation statement marks the first time the task force has issued recommendations on these topics. John Ruiz, PhD, a task force member, professor of clinical psychology and director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Arizona, told Healio that the task force “urgently calls for more research to be done in order to inform their ability to make” a determination either for or against this kind of screening in primary care settings.

“The task force's evaluations are contingent upon there being evidence to evaluate and, in this case, there was a lack of evidence to make a specific determination,” Ruiz said. “We hope that ... it does become a more urgent call to provide us with that research in order for us to move forward in a more clear way.”

Read more about social factors or racial and ethnic disparities, and find a link to submit a public comment for the task force in Healio's full article.

Updated: 05/24/23