Dental Caries in Children Younger Than 5 Years: Screening

1. Multivariate risk assessment and preventive interventions should enroll sufficient numbers from certain racial and ethnic populations (e.g., Black and Hispanic children) to understand the benefits and harms of interventions in these specific groups.
2. Validate the accuracy and utility of caries risk assessment instruments for use in primary care settings and to determine how referral of young children for dental care by primary care clinicians affects caries outcomes.
   1. Benefits of fluoride varnish among lower-risk and younger children.
   2. Benefits or harms of routine screening by primary care clinicians on caries outcomes in children younger than 5 years.
3. Effectiveness of preventive measures in economically disadvantaged children.
4. Effectiveness of interventions by clinicians to educate parents and caregivers about optimum health practices for oral hygiene at home.

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening examinations for dental caries performed by primary care clinicians in children younger than 5 years.

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