Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: Screening

For each of the evidence gaps listed below, research must focus on screening interventions that can be performed in nondental primary care settings and be inclusive of populations with a high prevalence of oral health conditions, including Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, and Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander persons and persons with social determinants that contribute to disparities in oral health.

1. Research is needed to assess the effectiveness and harms of primary care–based oral health screening strategies on oral health outcomes.
2. Research is needed on the diagnostic accuracy of oral health examinations and risk assessment tools in the primary care setting to identify children aged 5 to 17 years with oral health conditions.

Research Taxonomy: For additional information on research needed to address these evidence gaps, see the Research Gaps Taxonomy table on the USPSTF website .

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening performed by primary care clinicians for oral health conditions, including dental caries, in asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years.

Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: Screening Read the full statement